Papua New Guinea, Australia, and international partners have come together in East New Britain Province for Operation Render Safe 2026, reaffirming a shared commitment to safety, cooperation, and lasting regional partnerships.
The last time that occurred in PNG was in 2011, and it saw the safe disposal of around 2,000 explosive remnants of war (ERW). A reconnaissance conducted in East New Britain last year identified more than 1,600 ERW across the province, with hundreds more uncovered during the current operation.
Operation Render Safe 2026 brings together personnel from Papua New Guinea, Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, the United States, and the United Kingdom, with observers from Japan and India. Beyond the safe disposal of ERW, the operation highlights the strength of these multilateral relationships.
These partnerships are forged through shared experience, practical cooperation, and mutual trust. Working together on all aspects of Operation Render Safe, including planning, communication, leadership, and on-the-ground activities shows how partner nations can operate side by side effectively as one team. By training and operating together, participating nations are strengthening their interoperability and readiness to respond to future challenges.
Operation Render Safe 2026 will leave a lasting impact by creating a safer environment for the communities of East New Britain, while reinforcing strong multinational partnerships committed to peace, stability, and security.
ENDS
Quote attributable to Papua New Guinea Defence Force Sub Lieutenant Gareth Amoniu, Troop Commander Operation Render Safe:
“We are removing ERWs [explosive remnant of war] within the communities here [East New Britain], we are working closely with our Australia partner in this exercise here, plus strengthening community engagement and maintaining the good bilateral relationships we have with our other country partners."
Quote attributable to Australian Defence Advisor, Colonel Nicholas Trotter:
“The opportunity to deepen those relationships, demonstrate our interoperability through integrated planning, communications, integrated command and control, and through the execution of safe disposal of explosive remnants of war is what Operation Render Safe 2026 brings us.”
Australian Defence Force members provide an Operation Render Safe safety briefing to Dignitaries including the Governor of East New Britain, Hon. Michael Marum, PNGDF Deputy Commander Brigadier General Opa Lari Opa, Australian Defence Advisor Colonel Nicholas Trotter, and multinational partner representatives from Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, United States, France, Japan, and India, who visited the operation in East New Britain, Wednesday 10 June.
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100