Relationship of Papua New Guinea and the USA

Papua New Guinea is the most densely populated Pacific island nation (in 2013 there were about 7,800,000 people), the country is an important US companion to maintain peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region . The country has sustained economic growth at the expense of energy, agriculture and mineral resources. Papua New Guinea faces challenges as well: weak governance skills, corruption, limited capacity to provide basic services, deterioration of the health care system, and a serious HIV and AIDS epidemic among key populations in Highland .

The United States and Papua New Guinea have close ties of friendship, and the US government is seeking to increase the stability of this country as its partner. These two states work together on many issues: improving the system of government transparency and good governance, combating human trafficking, combating climate change, protecting fisheries, improving the health system and ensuring gender equality. The military of both countries have an agreement on cooperative security regarding the provision of assistance, which has focused mainly on joint humanitarian exercises and training for the military of Papua New Guinea.

The United States has organized bilateral and multilateral aid funds for a program to improve public health in Papua New Guinea, including approving the President’s Emergency Plan to Fight AIDS (PEPFAR), malaria and tropical diseases. The headquarters of the United States Agency for International Development and the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention are located in Papua New Guinea. The United States also supports Papua New Guinea’s biodiversity conservation efforts. In 2012, the United States assisted people in a number of provinces in Papua New Guinea that were affected by natural disasters caused by continuous heavy rain.

The US military , through Pacific Command in Honolulu , Hawaii , provides training for the Papua New Guinean Armed Forces. The United States provides police training courses for Papua New Guinea’s national security officials. US companies located in Papua New Guinea also finance a number of health and development projects.

Exports from the USA to Papua - New Guinea: oil, mining equipment and aircraft. The United States imports from Papua New Guinea: gold, copper ore, cocoa, coffee, and other agricultural products. ExxonMobil is involved in the construction of a gas pipeline and a plant for the production of liquefied natural gas.

• The relationship of Papua New Guinea and the United States on the website of the US State Department . (eng.)