Australia and Vanuatu signed an economic and security agreement on Monday that cements Canberra’s position as the Pacific island state’s preferred security and policing partner.
The deal is the latest in a series Australia has signed with Pacific island nations to gain a security presence in the region amid growing rivalry between China and US allies.
The agreement was due to be signed last September, but Vanuatu delayed closing the deal amid concerns it could limit its ability to secure infrastructure financing from other countries.
What does the Australia-Vanuatu deal stipulate?
The so-called Nakamal Agreement establishes a commitment by Australia to provide greater economic aid to Vanuatu, while stipulating that no foreign military base will be established in the latter country.
“This gives Australia the certainty that there will be no foreign military bases there,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters after signing the deal with his Vanuatu counterpart Jotham Napat in Canberra.
“This reflects Vanuatu’s sovereign decision not to allow its territory to be used for any foreign military base or infrastructure and that Vanuatu’s critical infrastructure will remain free from militarization,” he said.
Nepat confirmed Albanese’s statement, saying “We have actually passed an act in the Parliament that will not allow any militarized access to our critical infrastructure.”
However, he said his country was pursuing a separate economic agreement with Beijing.
When asked whether that deal would include security-related elements, he said: “We will share the agreement; there is nothing to hide.”
Australia and Vanuatu to cooperate on policing
The deal also recognizes Australia as “Vanuatu’s long-term primary policing partner” and states that Vanuatu will give priority to policing requests to other members of the Pacific Islands Forum regional bloc.
It also said the two countries would increase cooperation on “police training and equipment, policing, maritime security, cyber security, intelligence cooperation and infrastructure”.
This element of the deal also appears to be aimed at countering China’s influence, with Beijing offering help in policing Vanuatu from 2023.
Among other things, it has provided equipment to its police force including drones, patrol boats and vehicles.
What role is China playing in Vanuatu?
China is Vanuatu’s largest external creditor.
Chinese banks have provided loans to Chinese contractors to enable them to undertake major infrastructure projects, including the construction of the Presidential Office Complex, Parliament House and roads.
China’s navy has also regularly visited Vanuatu’s ports, while Beijing has also paid for the expansion of a pier in Luganville, where the US had its largest military base in the South Pacific during World War II.
That project raised fears in Canberra and Washington that China wanted to establish a naval base in Vanuatu.
China has been trying to increase its security influence in the Pacific region for some time.
Among other things, there has been a Chinese police presence in the Solomon Islands following the signing of a secret security agreement in 2022.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar