Nakamal Agreement limits foreign bases while expanding Australian police aid to Vanuatu

In June, Anthony Albanese and Jotham Napat signed the Nakamal Agreement in Port Vila, a pact that explicitly prohibits foreign powers from establishing defence bases on Vanuatu territory, echoing a national law adopted last year. Australian officials, including Pacific Minister Pat Conroy, present the treaty as a safeguard against external military presence near Australia. Jan Hutton of the foreign affairs department told the Senate the prohibition simply reflects Vanuatu’s own legislative requirements.

On the policing side, one outlet Assistant Commissioner David McLean indicated that the eight Australian officers currently in Vanuatu could almost double, providing assistance in administration, general policing, forensics, training and infrastructure such as new stations. Vanuatu’s parliament recently amended its security act to label the country a “non-militarised state,” while maintaining non-aligned ties that include infrastructure deals with other nations. The agreement is part of the Albanese government’s broader Pacific outreach, though it has faced more resistance in Vanuatu compared with other Pacific partners.