Prime Minister, James Marape welcomed continued cooperation with the United States following a constructive meeting with Chargé d’Affaires Alex Berenberg of the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby on Tuesday.
The meeting, held at Melanesian Haus, focused on strengthening bilateral collaboration in key areas, including fuel security, disaster response, and long-term infrastructure development.
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In a statement, Prime Minister Marape acknowledged the United States’ assurance of ongoing support during the current global fuel challenges.
“The United States has indicated they are working closely with fuel importers to ensure supply into Papua New Guinea remains stable, and they stand ready to support us through this period,” Prime Minister Marape said.
He further welcomed U.S. cooperation with regional and international partners in supporting disaster relief efforts following the impacts of Cyclone Maila.
“They have conveyed that additional assistance will be made available as we provide further advice on priority areas for support,” he added.
Prime Minister Marape also outlined the Government’s long-term development priorities, particularly for vulnerable island and coastal communities.
“We are looking at long-term solutions to better connect our island communities through transport and digital infrastructure, while also building resilience against climate and weather-related challenges,” he said.
On energy cooperation, the Prime Minister highlighted ongoing discussions under the PNG–US Defense Cooperation Agreement, including plans for enhanced fuel storage and supply capacity.
“Our vision is to develop Papua New Guinea into a key fuel storage and supply hub for domestic and regional needs, and this work is progressing with our partners,” Prime Minister Marape stated.
He reaffirmed Papua New Guinea’s strong partnership with the United States across development, security, and economic cooperation.
“The United States remains an important partner to Papua New Guinea, and we welcome their continued engagement in supporting our national priorities,” he said.
The meeting also covered cooperation on visa and migration matters, with the U.S. side indicating willingness to assist Papua New Guineans, subject to their internal processes.
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Prime Minister Marape confirmed that the Government will soon formally engage development partners, including the United States, to coordinate targeted support for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts, ensuring vulnerable communities across Papua New Guinea are better protected and more resilient to future natural disasters.