US to deploy coastguard ship to Papua New Guinea
Port Moresby (AFP) July 27, 2023
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday announced the deployment of a US Coastguard ship to Papua New Guinea, as Washington seeks to boost its military footprint in the region amid fierce competition for influence with China. "A US Coastguard cutter will be here in August," Austin said as he became the first Pentagon boss to visit Papua New Guinea. The move capitalises on a recentl