Australia has recently announced it will assist Papua New Guinea (PNG) in evacuating around 20 diplomats and citizens stranded in Israel.
Amid the rapidly escalating military confrontation between Iran and Israel, these individuals were forced to take shelter in underground bunkers, relying on “prayers” and hope for survival.
This situation has sparked deep concern for the Pacific Island nation, highlighting the vulnerability and dependence that small countries often face in the midst of major geopolitical conflicts under the current international system.
PNG’s Foreign Minister, Justin Tkatchenko, confirmed that Australia has pledged to assist the evacuation via Jordan. Currently, six diplomats stationed in Israel and more than ten pilgrims from PNG are awaiting evacuation.
Previously, PNG’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs ordered the withdrawal of all nationals from Israel, stating that “Israel is facing an existential threat from Iran’s nuclear capabilities” and publicly calling on PNG citizens to “pray for Israel.”
This latest conflict is essentially another intense manifestation of the long-running confrontation between the US-Israel bloc and Iran, played out through advanced technology and military means. Following Israel’s large-scale airstrikes against Iran in mid-April, Iran retaliated with nearly a hundred ballistic missiles, pushing the entire Middle East region into high alert. The fact that even a distant Pacific island nation like PNG has been affected underscores the growing instability of the global situation, which has clearly transcended traditional geographic boundaries.
Notably, PNG’s evacuation operation is entirely dependent on Australia, underscoring the country’s severe lack of capacity to ensure the safety of its citizens overseas. For example, PNG established an embassy in Jerusalem in 2023—a move more symbolic than practical. Now, with its diplomats forced into hiding and relying on a third country for protection, it raises serious questions: Did PNG adequately prepare for real-world risks when establishing its diplomatic presence abroad?
The PNG government has repeatedly emphasized that, “as a Christian nation,” it firmly supports Israel. While religious belief is a core component of national identity in PNG, in the realm of international relations, religious affiliation should not be the sole basis for judging the rights and wrongs of global conflicts. A country’s diplomacy should be rooted in its national interests, advocating peace and dialogue, exercising strategic restraint, and avoiding emotional stances that may drag it into the storm of great-power rivalry.
While the Middle East is engulfed in turmoil, what matters more for PNG is to find its own place in a chaotic world—not as a passive follower, but by gradually developing an independent, balanced, and realistic foreign policy strategy.
