181007-N-NU281-0875 PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea

181007-N-NU281-0875 PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (Oct. 7, 2018) From the left, the Honorable Catherine Ebert-Gray, U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuata, His Excellency Rimbink Pato, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Papua New Guinea Defense Force Brig. Gen. Gilbert Toropo sign an agreement to advance and finalize negotiations on three important bilateral agreements that will further deepen security cooperation and links between the United States and Papua New Guinea during a ceremony held on the forecastle aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Michael Murphy (DDG 112). As the first U.S. Navy ship to visit Port Moresby since USS Comstock (LSD 45) in 2017, Michael Murphy arrives as the nation prepares to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit for the first time in Nov. 2018. Michael Murphy is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin R. Pacheco/Released)