Australian Prime Minister Albanese will walk with his Papua New Guinea counterpart Marape to the town of Isurava, where a bloody battle took place during World War II.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on April 23 took a helicopter to the village of Kokoda in the island nation of Papua New Guinea and was welcomed by local people according to traditional rituals. From this village, he and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape will walk 15 km along the Kokoda trail in two days to the war memorial site in Isurava town.
Isurava was the site of a bloody battle between the US and Australian troops and Japanese fascist forces in August 1942 during World War II. This battle stopped the Japanese advance to Port Moreby, now the capital of Papua New Guinea.
The two leaders will celebrate Anzac Day in Isurava on April 25. On this day in 1915, Australian and New Zealand troops landed on the Turkish island of Gallipoli during the early stages of World War I.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (center, right) walks next to Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape as they depart from Kokoda village, Papua New Guinea on April 23. Image: AP
“To strengthen our brotherly relationship, we must move forward together,” Mr. Albanese said as he began his walk from Kokoda village. “We go step by step, symbolizing two countries standing side by side.”
Prime Minister Marape said “today’s joint journey will send to the world the message” that Papua New Guinea wants to live together in peace.
Australia and its nearest neighbour, Papua New Guinea, forged closer defense ties in December 2023, when Prime Minister Albanese and Prime Minister Marape signed the agreement in Canberra. Mr. Marape said at the time that security agreements with the US and Australia did not mean his government was on the side of these two countries in their strategic competition with China.
Prime Minister Albanese said Prime Minister Marape assured him at a state dinner in the capital Port Moresby on the evening of April 22 that Australia is still their “security partner”.
“This relationship has never been closer, symbolized by the fact that we will walk side by side along the Kokoda trail,” Mr. Albanese said.