A scheduling issue is one reason, but there are other factors that underscore why the defense treaty has yet to be signed. The first was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of PNG’s independence from Australia, and the second was to sign a new defense treaty between Canberra and Port Moresby. The Pukpuk Mutual Defense Treaty fits into Australia’s aim to cement its position as the security partner of choice for the Pacific Islands. The failure to sign the Pukpuk Treaty during the recent visit has been explained as a simple matter of logistics. Alongside this, PNG’s security challenges are not traditional military concerns that preoccupy the Australian Defense Force.