A 7,000-tonne Russian Navy ship is set to dock in Port Moresby on Wednesday with 200 cadets on board, but the governments of Papua New Guinea and Australia maintain there is no cause for concern.
The visit to Australia's Pacific neighbour is being touted in Moscow media as a "historic" event for the Russian Navy.
"The Perekop training ship will make a historic business port call in Port Moresby," Russia's Navy spokesman Igor Dygalo told Sputnik International.
"This will be the first port call by a Russian military ship in the history of Russian-PNG relations."
But despite ringing declarations from Moscow and the reality of an armed ship on Australia's doorstep, the PNG Government said Canberra would welcome the move as publicity for APEC.
"Naturally, we have informed the Australians, our major security partner and close neighbour, and advised them of the nature of the visit," PNG's Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato said in a statement.
"As is usual with our friends and ally, the Australians welcome our attempts to draw attention to the forthcoming APEC summit."
The Australian Government said it was notified about the visit but that it was "a matter for the governments of Papua New Guinea and Russia".
The 138-metre naval vessel will be in Papua New Guinea for three days as part of a training tour.
Mr Pato said it was a "gesture of friendship" between the two countries ahead of the APEC Leader's Summit in Port Moresby in November.
Reminder of Russian interest in Indo-Pacific
Richard Herr, adjunct professor of diplomacy and regional affairs at the University of Fiji, said the trip showed Moscow has placed value in the region.
"It is a Russian reminder that they are interested in the new geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific theatre and that they do see some advantage in showing an interest in PNG hosting the APEC summit," he said.
But Dr Herr said Russia's interest in APEC is small compared to the money China has poured into PNG to help it host this year's Leader's Summit.
China has built a $35 million convention centre and a $40 million, six-lane boulevard linking it to the national Parliament.
"When you compare one small, old ship to China's investments in helping PNG host APEC, they're not of the same magnitude," Dr Herr said.
