# Foreign relations of Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea's foreign policy reflects close ties with Australia and other traditional allies and cooperative relations with neighboring countries. Its views on international political and economic issues are generally moderate.
Papua New Guinea belongs to a variety of regional organizations, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum; the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) (Papua New Guinea is an observer member of the ASEAN); the South Pacific Commission; the Pacific Islands Forum; the Melanesian Spearhead Group and the South Pacific Regional Environmental Program (SPREP).
Papua New Guinea has been a member of The Forum of Small States (FOSS) since the group's founding in 1992.

## Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Papua New Guinea maintains diplomatic relations with:
Date :
| 1 | Australia | 16 September 1975 |
| 2 | Fiji | 16 September 1975 |
| 3 | Indonesia | 16 September 1975 |
| 4 | Japan | 16 September 1975 |
| 5 | New Zealand | 16 September 1975 |
| 6 | Philippines | 16 September 1975 |
| 7 | United Kingdom | 16 September 1975 |
| 8 | United States | 16 September 1975 |
| 9 | Kuwait | 1975 |
| 10 | Egypt | 20 April 1976 |
| 11 | Thailand | 14 May 1976 |
| 12 | India | 19 May 1976 |
| 13 | Mexico | 19 May 1976 |
| 14 | Romania | 19 May 1976 |
| 15 | Russia | 19 May 1976 |
| 16 | Singapore | 19 May 1976 |
| 17 | South Korea | 19 May 1976 |
| 18 | Serbia | 21 May 1976 |
| 19 | North Korea | 1 June 1976 |
| 20 | Switzerland | 2 June 1976 |
| 21 | Mongolia | 16 June 1976 |
| 22 | France | 22 June 1976 |
| 23 | Austria | 24 June 1976 |
| 24 | Malaysia | 12 July 1976 |
| 25 | Canada | 9 August 1976 |
| 26 | Norway | 9 August 1976 |
| 27 | Chile | 19 August 1976 |
| 28 | Netherlands | 25 August 1976 |
| 29 | Belgium | 16 September 1976 |
| 30 | Germany | 16 September 1976 |
| 31 | Pakistan | 4 October 1976 |
| 32 | China | 12 October 1976 |
| 33 | Portugal | 15 October 1976 |
| 34 | Sweden | 10 November 1976 |
| 35 | Greece | January 1977 |
| 36 | Hungary | 4 February 1977 |
| — | Holy See | 7 March 1977 |
| 37 | Ghana | 22 August 1977 |
| 38 | Iraq | 27 August 1977 |
| 39 | Finland | 31 August 1977 |
| 40 | Luxembourg | 15 October 1977 |
| 41 | Denmark | February 1978 |
| 42 | Poland | 10 February 1978 |
| 43 | Cyprus | 20 April 1978 |
| 44 | Costa Rica | 28 April 1978 |
| 45 | Israel | 1 May 1978 |
| 46 | Solomon Islands | 17 August 1978 |
| 47 | Spain | 28 August 1978 |
| 48 | Argentina | 6 November 1978 |
| 49 | Italy | 30 April 1979 |
| 50 | Turkey | 30 May 1979 |
| 51 | Samoa | 27 August 1979 |
| 52 | Tuvalu | January 1980 |
| 53 | Tanzania | 29 March 1980 |
| 54 | Vanuatu | 30 July 1980 |
| 55 | Nigeria | August 1982 |
| 56 | Tonga | August 1982 |
| 57 | Sri Lanka | 17 November 1982 |
| 58 | Bangladesh | 20 June 1983 |
| 59 | Peru | 14 September 1983 |
| 60 | Brunei | 1 May 1984 |
| 61 | Kiribati | Before 1986 |
| 62 | Colombia | 2 March 1988 |
| 63 | Zimbabwe | May 1988 |
| 64 | Marshall Islands | 21 September 1988 |
| 65 | Federated States of Micronesia | 21 September 1988 |
| 66 | Czech Republic | 20 October 1988 |
| 67 | Maldives | 22 December 1988 |
| 68 | Brazil | 27 April 1989 |
| 69 | Cuba | 13 October 1989 |
| 70 | Vietnam | 3 November 1989 |
| 71 | Laos | 6 April 1990 |
| 72 | Namibia | 30 April 1990 |
| 73 | Venezuela | 1 January 1991 |
| 74 | Jamaica | 16 April 1991 |
| 75 | Myanmar | 24 July 1991 |
| 76 | Albania | 28 August 1991 |
| 77 | Palau | 1 October 1994 |
| 78 | South Africa | 7 October 1994 |
| — | State of Palestine | 13 January 1995 |
| — | Cook Islands | 1995 |
| 79 | Panama | 3 May 1996 |
| 80 | Cambodia | 7 October 1996 |
| 81 | Croatia | 5 December 1997 |
| 82 | Slovakia | 29 October 1999 |
| 83 | Timor-Leste | 19 July 2002 |
| 84 | Iceland | 12 August 2004 |
| 85 | Slovenia | 9 February 2010 |
| 86 | Botswana | 2010 |
| 87 | Nepal | 12 April 2013 |
| — | Niue | 9 December 2014 |
| 88 | Paraguay | 21 September 2016 |
| 89 | Estonia | 4 October 2016 |
| 90 | Georgia | 4 October 2016 |
| 91 | Qatar | 22 February 2017 |
| 92 | United Arab Emirates | 22 March 2017 |
| 93 | Malta | 6 October 2017 |
| 94 | Latvia | 9 May 2018 |
| 95 | Morocco | 28 September 2018 |
| 96 | Ireland | 26 October 2020 |
| 97 | Nicaragua | 17 February 2023 |
| 98 | Kazakhstan | 24 March 2023 |
| 99 | Azerbaijan | 5 May 2023 |
| 100 | Bahrain | 1 June 2023 |
| 101 | Bulgaria | 14 February 2025 |
| 102 | Nauru | Unknown |

## Bilateral relations

| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| Australia | 16 September 1975 | See Australia–Papua New Guinea relations Relations with Australia were strained in 2006 when Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare was accused of having facilitated Julian Moti's escape to the Solomon Islands. Moti was wanted in Australia for serious alleged child sex offences. In retaliation, the Australian government banned Somare from entering Australia; all talks between Canberra and Port Moresby were suspended. In September 2007, relations began to thaw, and in December 2007, the new Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, met Sir Michael in Bali. Rudd announced what appears to be a normalisation of relations: "This relationship has been through a very difficult period in recent times. There has in effect been a freeze on ministerial contact between the two governments. I do not believe that's an appropriate way for the future." Australia has a High Commission in Port Moresby and a consulate-general in Lae. Papua New Guinea has a High Commission in Canberra and consulates-general in Brisbane and Sydney. |
| Canada | 9 August 1976 | Canada is accredited to Papua New Guinea from its High Commission in Canberra, Australia. Papua New Guinea is accredited to Canada from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. |
| China | 12 October 1976 | See China–Papua New Guinea relations The Independent State of Papua New Guinea and the People's Republic of China (PRC) established official diplomatic relations in 1976, soon after Papua New Guinea became independent. The two countries currently maintain diplomatic, economic and, to a lesser degree, military relations. Relations are cordial; China is a significant provider of both investments and development aid to Papua New Guinea. |
| Cuba | 13 October 1989 | In the late 2000s, Papua New Guinea began to strengthen its relations with Cuba. Cuba provides medical aid to the country. In September 2008, a PNG government representative attended the first Cuba-Pacific Islands ministerial meeting in Havana, aimed at "strengthening cooperation" between Cuba and Pacific Island countries, notably in coping with the effects of climate change. |
| Cyprus | 20 April 1978 | Cyprus is represented in Papua New Guinea through its High Commission in Canberra, Australia. Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations. |
| Fiji | 16 September 1975 | As of November 2005, relations with Pacific neighbor Fiji have been strained by revelations that a number of Fijian mercenaries have been operating illegally on the island of Bougainville, arming and training a rebel militia. Both Fiji and Papua New Guinea are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations. |
| France | 22 June 1976 | See France–Papua New Guinea relations Official diplomatic relations were established in 1976. Papua New Guinea is a member of the United Nations' Special Committee on Decolonization. The French government has noted what it calls Port Moresby's "moderate" attitude on the issue of the decolonisation of New Caledonia - which, like Papua New Guinea, is located in Melanesia. The French National Assembly maintains a Friendship Group with Papua New Guinea. |
| India | 19 May 1976 | See India-Papua New Guinea Relations India has a High Commission in Port Moresby. Papua New Guinea maintains a High Commission in New Delhi. |
| Indonesia | 16 September 1975 | See Indonesia–Papua New Guinea relations Western New Guinea (which consists of six Indonesian provinces: Papua, West Papua, Central Papua, Highland Papua, South Papua, and Southwest Papua) and Papua New Guinea share a 760-kilometre (470 mi) border that has raised tensions and ongoing diplomatic issues over many decades. Indonesia is represented in Papua New Guinea with an embassy in Port Moresby and a consulate in Vanimo. Reciprocally, Papua New Guinea has an Ambassador in Jakarta and a Consul-General in Jayapura. |
| Japan | 16 September 1975 | Diplomatic relations between Japan and Papua New Guinea were established on 16 September 1975, the date Papua-New Guinea became independent. Japan maintains an embassy at Port Moresby. Papua-New Guinea is currently the largest recipient of Japanese foreign aid in the Pacific. Ministerial level visits are frequent between the two countries. Reciprocally, Papua New Guinea has an embassy in Tokyo. |
| Mexico | 19 May 1976 | See Mexico–Papua New Guinea relations Mexico is accredited to Papua New Guinea from its embassy in Canberra, Australia. Papua New Guinea is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. |
| New Zealand | 16 September 1975 | See New Zealand–Papua New Guinea relations New Zealand has a High Commission in Port Moresby. Papua New Guinea has a High Commission in Willis Street, Te Aro, Wellington. |
| Philippines | 16 September 1975 | In March 2009, The Philippines and Papua New Guinea entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would enhance the cooperation between the two countries on the development of fisheries. The MoU will facilitate technology transfer in aquaculture development, promotion of shipping ventures, investments, technical training, joint research, and "strategic complementation" of each country's plans in the "Coral Triangle" – or the waters between the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands. In the same year, Papua New Guinea asked the Philippines for help in its pursuit of membership to ASEAN. |
| Poland | 10 February 1978 | See Papua New Guinea–Poland relations. |
| Serbia | 23 May 1976 | Both countries have established diplomatic relations in 1976. Papua New Guinea recognized Kosovo as independent from 3 October 2012 until withdrawing its recognition on 5 July 2018. |
| South Korea | 19 May 1976 | See Papua New Guinea–South Korea relations. The Independent State of Papua New Guinea and the Republic of Korea have established diplomatic relations on 19 May 1976. Papua New Guinea and South Korea have good relations. Papua New Guinean embassy in Seoul. South Korean embassy in Port Moresby. South Koreans of Long-Term Residents in Papua New Guinea was about around 201 in 2019. |
| Spain | 28 August 1978 | See Papua New Guinea–Spain relations. Papua New Guinea is accredited to Spain from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium. Spain is accredited to Papua New Guinea from its embassy in Canberra, Australia. |
| Turkey | 30 May 1979 | Papua New Guinea has an Honorary Consulate in Istanbul. Turkish ambassador in Canberra to Australia is also accredited to Papua New Guinea. |
| United Kingdom | 16 September 1975 | See Papua New Guinea–United Kingdom relations Papua New Guinea and the United Kingdom share King Charles III as their head of state. They have had relations since 1975 when Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia. Papua New Guinea has a High Commission in London. United Kingdom has a High Commission in Port Moresby. |
| United States | 16 September 1975 | See Papua New Guinea–United States relations The U.S. and Papua New Guinea are signatories to the U.S.-Pacific Islands Multilateral Tuna Fisheries Treaty, under which the U.S. grants $63 million per year to Pacific Island parties and the latter provide access for U.S. fishing vessels. The U.S. also supports Papua New Guinea's efforts to protect biodiversity; the International Coral Reef Initiative is aimed at protecting reefs in tropical nations such as Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea has an embassy in Washington, D.C. United States has an embassy in Port Moresby. |

## Papua New Guinea and the Commonwealth of Nations

Papua New Guinea has been a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations since 1975, when it gained independence from Australia under the terms of the Australian Parliament's Papua New Guinea Independence Act 1975.