Papua New Guinea is to participate in a joint navy exercise with India, Australia and Indonesia beginning later this week.
India's First Post website reported that several ships from the country's naval fleet are to set course for interaction with Indonesia, PNG and Australia after completing a maritime exercise with Singapore on Wednesday.
A spokesman from India's Navy said its presence in this region is a manifestation of growing engagement with Association of Southeast Asian Nations and maritime nations of the Western Pacific.
He said constructive engagement between navies has always been a preferred method of military engagement between friendly nations.