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Vanuatu stresses sovereignty in pacific deals as talks continue with Australia
Vanuatu remains open to signing a major agreement with Australia but emphasizes its sovereignty, insisting that larger nations must not apply pressure or “bully” smaller countries, according to Internal Affairs Minister Andrew Napuat.
Negotiations over the $500 million Nakamal agreement, initially expected to be signed last month, stalled due to concerns in Port Vila that the deal might hinder other countries from funding infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, Vanuatu is moving to formalize a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China to enhance policing cooperation.
“These days are over. We want agreements that genuinely reflect what we envision for our people,” Napuat said, highlighting Vanuatu’s desire to avoid any perception of neocolonial influence. He confirmed that leaders are prepared to sign the Nakamal agreement once it fully represents Vanuatu’s interests.
Australia, represented by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, expressed respect for Vanuatu’s sovereignty and affirmed that partnerships in the Pacific are based on mutual respect and shared security responsibilities.
Despite the ongoing negotiations with Australia, Vanuatu continues to deepen its policing cooperation with China, formalizing arrangements that have existed since 2014. Experts caution, however, that Chinese involvement could introduce practices that may affect domestic governance, while Australia remains the primary security partner in the region.