Latest blow to Labor’s Pacific defence strategy might not be the embarrassment the Coalition claims

Anthony Albanese must now save the defence agreement with Papua New Guinea, a week after a similar plan with Vanuatu was delayed

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When Anthony Albanese landed in Papua New Guinea for celebrations marking 50 years of independence this week, he was expecting to sign a landmark mutual defence agreement and designate the one-time colony as a formal ally of Australia.

Instead, despite insisting the text of the agreement had been approved, the prime minister left Port Moresby on Wednesday with only a 300-word joint communique signed with his counterpart, James Marape.