Security Treaty

Vanuatu says security deal with Australia to be ratified later this year

Vanuatu's Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau said, during a visit by Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles, that a security treaty signed with Australia in December 2022 is still being examined.

Some Vanuatu politicians who favour ties with China have expressed concern over the deal.

Vanuatu's National Security Council was "going through the text" and it will next be considered by his government's Council of Ministers, Kalsakau said in Vanuatu's capital Port Vila.

"It will be presented for ratification before the end of this year in Parliament," he said.

Vanuatu not keen on Australian security treaty

Ralph Regenvanu's comments come ahead of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's visit this week.

The Daily Post reported that Australian officials explicitly asked for a treaty during Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai's visit to Canberra last year.

However, Ralph Regenvanu said they hadn't responded positively yet.

Mr Reganvanu said there would be no prospect of a change in Vanuatu's 'Non-Aligned' status.

The foreign minister later clarified that this stance was not aimed specifically at Australia.