Papua New Guinea’s cabinet has approved a landmark defence treaty with Australia, paving the way for the pact to be signed as early as next week.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and counterpart James Marape had hoped to sign the treaty during PNG’s 50th anniversary of independence celebrations last month, but those plans were shelved when PNG’s cabinet could not assemble a quorum to approve the pact.

Sources familiar with the pact said PNG’s cabinet met on Wednesday and approved the treaty, which would commit the nations to come to each other’s defence to meet a “common danger” and allow PNG and Australian nationals to serve in each other’s militaries.

Marape is expected to attend the National Rugby League grand final in Sydney on Sunday alongside Albanese, opening the possibility of

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