The United States signed a defense agreement with Papua New Guinea on Monday, as it seeks to strengthen ties in the Pacific amid competition with China for influence in the region.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape signed the Defense Cooperation Agreement in Papua New Guinea's capital Port Moresby, alongside a maritime security agreement aimed at countering illegal fishing.According to the U.S. State Department, the defense pact will "serve as a foundational framework" to enhance security cooperation, improve the capacity of Papua New Gui…READ FULL ARTICLE
