PNG Former Defence Chiefs Call for Neutrality Statement on Global Conflict

A clear public declaration from the Government of Papua New Guinea on the country’s neutrality has been requested by former commanders of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force following rising tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran.

Retired Major General Jerry Singirok and retired Commodore Ambassador Peter Illau made the appeal in a joint statement, saying PNG should remain faithful to its long-standing diplomatic approach of maintaining friendly relations with all nations.

Retired Major General Jerry Singirok

They warned that the expanding conflict could have security implications across the Pacific and Southeast Asian regions.

Reports indicate that the United States and Israel recently carried out coordinated strikes against Iran in what has been described as Operation Epic Fury, an operation reportedly undertaken without approval from the United Nations Security Council or the US Congress.

The two former commanders said the actions had been described by observers as violating provisions within the United Nations Charter governing the use of military force.

They stressed the importance of transparency from the government, particularly on whether any strategic locations within PNG were being used to support foreign military operations.

Among the locations mentioned was the Lombrum Naval Base, which they said could draw the country into wider geopolitical tensions if not carefully managed.

They also encouraged the government to work with the Pacific Islands Forum and regional partners to advocate for an immediate ceasefire, reopening of international shipping routes and diplomatic negotiations between the countries involved.

“We have taken for granted at independence that our foreign policy dictated that we are a non-aligned country and we are friends to all, enemies to none.

“However, in the past few years, we have aligned ourselves with the USA under the Defense Cooperation Agreement and with Australia under the Pukpuk Treaty. And that basically means that we are now aligned by default with the superpowers and middle powers,” Singirok added.