Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat signed the Nakamal Agreement in Canberra on Monday. This long-awaited bilateral security and economic treaty is a cooperation deal that was substantially revised from a preliminary accord signed last year.
The agreement is seen as a bid to check China's growing security presence in the region. Specifically, the treaty prevents China from creating a military base on the South Pacific island nation.
Despite the new pact, an economic deal between Vanuatu and China is still in the works. China formed policing ties with Vanuatu in 2023 and has donated equipment, including drones, patrol boats, and vehicles, to its police force.