As the United States reengages in the Pacific Islands, Papua New Guinea is emerging as an increasingly important U.S. partner. It is the region’s largest country, with a landmass about the size of California and a population estimated to be somewhere between 10 and 17 million. In April 2022, Papua New Guinea was designated as one of the focus countries under the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability (SPCPS). In May 2023, the United States and Papua New Guinea signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement.

Type: Fact Sheet

Under the Bougainville Peace Agreement, 97.7 percent of Bougainvillians voted for independence from Papua New Guinea in a 2019 nonbinding referendum. But despite this near-unanimous result, the agreement itself was unclear on how the process should proceed — leaving the governments of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea to develop a political settlement on their own. Kevin Pullen, a doctoral candidate at the Australian National University, explores where the negotiations stand today, why it’s important to prepare Bougainville to manage its own affairs regardless of what shape the political settlement may take, and the situation’s impact on U.S. Indo-Pacific policy.

Type: Blog

Pope Francis wrapped up the largest, farthest trip of his pontificate last week, which encapsulated his position as a simultaneous spiritual and political figure.

Type: Analysis

During his 10-day trip to the region, the pope used “straight, plain-spoken language” while discussing pressing issues — such as climate change in Indonesia and violence against women in Papua New Guinea — in the hopes of spurring change, said USIP’s Gordon Peake: “No pun intended, he has a bit of a bully pulpit in these matters.”

Type: Podcast