The United States and Papua New Guinea are set to sign a bilateral defence cooperation agreement.

The region has taken on renewed importance for the US as it seeks to bolster influence in the Pacific amid rising tensions with China.

Victoria University professor of Strategic Studies Robert Ayson says this deal is significant, as Papua New Guinea is the largest and most important country in the South Pacific.

"It occupies a very important place in regional strategy in terms of where its ports and bases are, and the United States is going to be gaining additional access to those facilities."

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