US and Australia hold first-ever joint military exercise in Papua New Guinea

For the Papua New Guinea component, U.S., Australian and PNG forces are conducting disaster recovery and survival exercises through seven regions of PNG, moving through terrain from Wewak to Lae that saw fierce fighting between Japan and the U.S. in World War Two. Talisman Sabre exercises in Australia last month involved 40,000 troops from 19 countries. Sydney: The joint U.S. and Australian military exercise Talisman Sabre extended across 500 km (300 miles) of remote northern coast in Papua New Guinea this week, Australian officials said, the first time the war games have been taken to another country. The PNG activities…