Australia and Vanuatu sign pact barring foreign military bases
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat signed the Nakamal Agreement in Canberra, a security and economic pact that bars foreign military bases and infrastructure in Vanuatu.
Under the deal, Vanuatu must consult Australia before allowing third-party investment in critical infrastructure, though Canberra holds no veto — a softening from earlier drafts that Vanuatu rejected in September 2025 over concerns it would deter outside investment. Vanuatu also pledged to turn first to Australia, New Zealand or France in major disasters, and the two agreed to expand cooperation on police training, maritime security, cyber and intelligence. In return Australia promised increased economic support, with figures to come in a year-end budget update; an earlier proposal floated A$500 million over a decade.
The agreement is the latest in a series Canberra has pursued across the Pacific to keep rival militaries — chiefly China’s — from gaining a foothold near Australia. Beijing, which has funded infrastructure in Vanuatu and made naval port calls there, said it hoped the cooperation “will not target any third party.” Vanuatu, for its part, is keeping its economic ties with China intact, underscoring the balancing act small Pacific states are running between the two powers.