**Australia and Vanuatu Sign Agreement to Prevent Foreign Military Bases**
*Canberra, Australia – June 29, 2026* – In a significant development in the geopolitical landscape of the South Pacific, Australia and Vanuatu have signed a comprehensive economic and security agreement that prohibits the establishment of any foreign military bases on Vanuatu's territory. The agreement, known as the Nakamal Agreement, was formalized during a meeting between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat in Canberra.
The signing of the Nakamal Agreement comes amid growing concerns over China's increasing influence in the Pacific region. Vanuatu is strategically located and has been a focal point of competition between China and the United States' allies, particularly Australia. In recent years, China has strengthened its ties with Vanuatu, notably forming policing partnerships and providing various forms of support, including drones, patrol boats, and vehicles for the Vanuatu police force.
Prime Minister Albanese emphasized the importance of the agreement for both nations' security. "What this does do is to provide certainty for Australia that there will be no foreign military base," he stated, highlighting the commitment to collective security and sovereignty. The agreement aims to reassure Australia that its interests in the region will be safeguarded against potential military encroachment.
The Nakamal Agreement explicitly states that Vanuatu will not allow its territory to be used for any foreign military base or military infrastructure. This provision is significant given the backdrop of China's naval activities in the region, including multiple port calls to Vanuatu and the recent expansion of the wharf in Luganville, a site historically associated with U.S. military operations during World War II. Although Beijing has described the wharf's expansion as intended for cruise ships, the development has raised alarms in Canberra and Washington regarding a potential Chinese naval base.
In a press conference following the signing, Prime Minister Napat reaffirmed Vanuatu's stance on militarization, stating, "As a country, we have in fact passed an act in parliament not to allow any militarization to actually be used for our critical infrastructure." This legislative action underscores Vanuatu's commitment to maintaining its sovereignty and avoiding military dependencies.
The agreement also recognizes Australia as Vanuatu's primary policing partner and establishes a framework for enhanced cooperation in areas such as police training, maritime security, cyber security, and intelligence sharing. The partnership aims to bolster Vanuatu's law enforcement capabilities while ensuring that policing requests are prioritized within the Pacific Islands Forum regional bloc.
This treaty is part of a broader strategy by Australia to strengthen ties with Pacific island nations in response to China's expanding influence. Australia has been actively engaging with its neighbors to counterbalance China's presence, which has included a controversial security pact with the Solomon Islands in 2022 that allowed for a Chinese police presence in that nation.
While the Nakamal Agreement marks a significant step in Australia-Vanuatu relations, experts caution that Vanuatu's long-standing tradition of non-alignment may complicate its diplomatic balancing act. James Batley, a former Australian diplomat, noted that Vanuatu is unlikely to completely sever its relationship with China, which has invested heavily in infrastructure projects throughout the country over the past decade. "Nor will China abandon its attempts to undermine Australia's interests in Vanuatu," he added.
As Vanuatu continues to navigate its foreign relations, the Nakamal Agreement represents a pivotal moment in its approach to security and economic partnerships, particularly in the context of the ongoing strategic rivalry between China and the United States' allies in the Pacific region. The agreement is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of Vanuatu's international relations and its position within the broader geopolitical landscape.