Country moves to deepen policing ties with China as Australia continues negotiations on Nakamal agreement, which was not signed last month as hoped
Vanuatu remains open to signing a wide-ranging deal with Australia but must assert its sovereignty and will not be subject to pressure or “bullying” from larger countries, the country’s internal affairs minister, Andrew Napuat, said.
Australia failed to seal the $500m Nakamal agreement in Port Vila last month amid concerns from Vanuatu that it would block other countries providing infrastructure funding. Weeks later, Vanuatu said it planned to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deepen policing cooperation with China.
While Napuat said the two deals were separate, the stalled Nakamal pact and Australia’s recent failure to sign a defence treaty with Papua New Guinea have dealt a blow to Canberra’s efforts to push back on Beijing’s influence in the Pacific.
In an interview with the Guardian, Napuat acknowledged Australia’s role as a major player in the Pacific region but stressed that “this big partner must also respect the wishes of smaller nations like Vanuatu”.
