Jotham Napat, the newly elected prime minister of Vanuatu, announced intentions to revise a security agreement with Australia to better reflect national priorities such as climate change and travel mobility for citizens. While the existing 2022 bipartisan pact includes disaster response, policing, and cybersecurity provisions, it only mentions climate change once. Napat aims for a more comprehensive agreement and has already discussed his proposals with Australian officials, who have expressed openness to revisiting the terms. This move underscores Vanuatu's desire for a win-win situation in the bilateral relationship amidst growing regional dynamics influenced by China.
'Climate change for us is a security issue that is not reflected in the security agreement,' Napat told the Guardian. 'It's something that we would like to revisit and be able to discuss openly with the Australian government.'
The bipartisan security deal, signed in 2022 but yet to be ratified by either nation, aims to strengthen cooperation in areas including disaster response, policing, cybersecurity and border security.
In addition to greater reference to climate change, Napat said he also wanted an official waiver-free agreement with Australia as part of a new deal to facilitate easier travel.
Australia's push for security and policing agreements with Pacific countries... has been widely viewed as part of its effort to counter China's growing influence in the region.
Collection
[
|
...
]