thumb|APEC 2018 in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea's foreign policy reflects close ties with Australia and other traditional allies and cooperative relations with neighboring countries. Its views on international political and economic issues are generally moderate.
Papua New Guinea belongs to a variety of regional organizations, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum; the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) (Papua New Guinea is an observer member of the ASEAN); the South Pacific Commission; the Pacific Islands Forum; the Melanesian Spearhead Group and the South Pacific Regional Environmental Program (SPREP).
Papua New Guinea has been a member of The Forum of Small States (FOSS) since the group's founding in 1992.
Diplomatic relations
List of countries which Papua New Guinea maintains diplomatic relations with:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="3" |frameless|425x425px
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!#
!Country
!Date
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|1
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|2
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|25
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|30
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|34
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|-
|—
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|36
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|37
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|38
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|39
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|40
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|41
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|42
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|43
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|44
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|45
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|46
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|47
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|48
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|49
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|50
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|51
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|52
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|53
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|54
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|56
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|Before
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|57
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|58
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|59
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|60
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|62
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|63
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|64
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|65
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|67
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|69
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|70
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|73
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|74
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|76
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|77
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|-
|—
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|79
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|83
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|84
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|86
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|-
|87
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|-
|—
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|-
|88
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|89
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|91
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|92
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|-
|95
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|97
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|98
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|104
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|}
Bilateral relations
Americas
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"
|-
! style="width:15%;" | Country
! style="width:12%;" | Formal Relations Began
!Notes
|- valign="top"
|||9 August 1976||
- Canada is accredited to Papua New Guinea from its High Commission in Canberra, Australia.
- Papua New Guinea is accredited to Canada from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.
|- valign="top"
|||13 October 1989||
In the late 2000s, Papua New Guinea began to strengthen its relations with Cuba. Cuba provides medical aid to the country. In September 2008, a PNG government representative attended the first Cuba-Pacific Islands ministerial meeting in Havana, aimed at "strengthening cooperation" between Cuba and Pacific Island countries, notably in coping with the effects of climate change.
|- valign="top"
|||19 May 1976||See Mexico–Papua New Guinea relations
- Mexico is accredited to Papua New Guinea from its embassy in Canberra, Australia.
- Papua New Guinea is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.
|}
Asia
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"
|-
! style="width:15%;" | Country
! style="width:12%;" | Formal Relations Began
!Notes
|- valign="top"
|||12 October 1976||See China–Papua New Guinea relations
The Independent State of Papua New Guinea and the People's Republic of China (PRC) established official diplomatic relations in 1976, soon after Papua New Guinea became independent. The two countries currently maintain diplomatic, economic and, to a lesser degree, military relations. Relations are cordial; China is a significant provider of both investments and development aid to Papua New Guinea.
|- valign="top"
|||20 April 1978||
- Cyprus is represented in Papua New Guinea through its High Commission in Canberra, Australia.
- Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
|- valign="top"
|||19 May 1976||See India-Papua New Guinea Relations
- India has a High Commission in Port Moresby.
- Papua New Guinea maintains a High Commission in New Delhi.
|- valign="top"
|||16 September 1975||See Indonesia–Papua New Guinea relations
Western New Guinea (which consists of six Indonesian provinces: Papua, West Papua, Central Papua, Highland Papua, South Papua, and Southwest Papua) and Papua New Guinea share a border that has raised tensions and ongoing diplomatic issues over many decades. Indonesia is represented in Papua New Guinea with an embassy in Port Moresby and a consulate in Vanimo. Reciprocally, Papua New Guinea has an Ambassador in Jakarta and a Consul-General in Jayapura.
|- valign="top"
|||<!--Date started-->16 September 1975||
Diplomatic relations between Japan and Papua New Guinea were established on 16 September 1975, the date Papua-New Guinea became independent. Japan maintains an embassy at Port Moresby. Papua-New Guinea is currently the largest recipient of Japanese foreign aid in the Pacific. Ministerial level visits are frequent between the two countries. Reciprocally, Papua New Guinea has an embassy in Tokyo.
|- valign="top"
|
|
|Diplomatic relations between both countries established 5 April 1995 when first Ambassador of Kuwait to Papua New Guinea with residence in Tokyo Mr.Suhail K. Shuhaiber presented his credentials to Governor General of Papua New Guinea Sir Wiwa Korowi. In the same year, Papua New Guinea asked the Philippines for help in its pursuit of membership to ASEAN.
|- valign="top"
|||19 May 1976||See Papua New Guinea–South Korea relations.
The Independent State of Papua New Guinea and the Republic of Korea established diplomatic relations on 19 May 1976.
- Papua New Guinea and South Korea have good relations.
- Papua New Guinean embassy in Seoul.
- South Korean embassy in Port Moresby.
- South Koreans of Long-Term Residents in Papua New Guinea was about around 201 in 2019.
|- valign="top"
|||<!--Date started-->30 May 1979||
- Papua New Guinea has an Honorary Consulate in Istanbul. The French National Assembly maintains a Friendship Group with Papua New Guinea.
|- valign="top"
|||10 February 1978||See Papua New Guinea–Poland relations.
|- valign="top"
|||23 May 1976||
Both countries have established diplomatic relations in 1976. Papua New Guinea recognized Kosovo as independent from 3 October 2012 until withdrawing its recognition on 5 July 2018.
|- valign="top"
|||28 August 1978||See Papua New Guinea–Spain relations.
- Papua New Guinea is accredited to Spain from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
- Spain is accredited to Papua New Guinea from its embassy in Canberra, Australia.
|- valign="top"
|||16 September 1975||See Papua New Guinea–United Kingdom relations
thumb|[[Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea|Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape with British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in Port Moresby, April 2023.]]
Papua New Guinea established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 16 September 1975. Both countries are Commonwealth Realms.
- Papua New Guinea maintains a high commission in London.
- The United Kingdom is accredited to Fiji through its high commission in Port Moresby.
The UK governed Papua New Guinea from 1884 until 1906, when the territory was transferred to Australia.
Both countries share common membership of the Commonwealth, the International Criminal Court, the United Nations, and the World Trade Organization, as well as the Pacific States–United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement, Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Convention., an Investment Agreement. and a Security Agreement,
|}
Oceania
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"
|-
! style="width:15%;" | Country
! style="width:12%;" | Formal Relations Began
!Notes
|- valign="top"
|||16 September 1975||See Australia–Papua New Guinea relations
Relations with Australia were strained in 2006 when Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare was accused of having facilitated Julian Moti's escape to the Solomon Islands. Moti was wanted in Australia for serious alleged child sex offences. In retaliation, the Australian government banned Somare from entering Australia; all talks between Canberra and Port Moresby were suspended. In September 2007, relations began to thaw, and in December 2007, the new Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, met Sir Michael in Bali. Rudd announced what appears to be a normalisation of relations: "This relationship has been through a very difficult period in recent times. There has in effect been a freeze on ministerial contact between the two governments. I do not believe that's an appropriate way for the future."
- Australia has a High Commission in Port Moresby and a consulate-general in Lae.
- Papua New Guinea has a High Commission in Canberra and consulates-general in Brisbane and Sydney.
|- valign="top"
|||16 September 1975||
As of November 2005, relations with Pacific neighbor Fiji have been strained by revelations that a number of Fijian mercenaries have been operating illegally on the island of Bougainville, arming and training a rebel militia. Both Fiji and Papua New Guinea are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
|- valign="top"
|||16 September 1975||See New Zealand–Papua New Guinea relations
- New Zealand has a High Commission in Port Moresby.
- Papua New Guinea has a High Commission in Willis Street, Te Aro, Wellington.
|}
Papua New Guinea and the Commonwealth of Nations
Papua New Guinea has been a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations since 1975, when it gained independence from Australia under the terms of the Australian Parliament's Papua New Guinea Independence Act 1975.
See also
- List of diplomatic missions in Papua New Guinea
- List of diplomatic missions of Papua New Guinea
- :Category: Treaties of Papua New Guinea