The Nakamal Agreement is a bilateral security and economic cooperation treaty between Australia and Vanuatu. It was initialled on 13 August 2025 at Mount Yasur on Tanna Island and formally signed on 29 June 2026 in Canberra by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Vanuatuan Prime Minister Jotham Napat. The agreement strengthens cooperation in security, policing, critical infrastructure, economic development, labour mobility, disaster response, and climate resilience.
The agreement was named after the nakamal, a traditional meeting place in Vanuatu where community decisions are made. It replaced a proposed 2025 version after negotiations were delayed due to concerns raised by the Vanuatuan government over national sovereignty.
Background The Nakamal Agreement emerged after Vanuatu's Prime Minister Jotham Napat, upon taking office in early 2025, rejected the 2022 security agreement for not addressing Vanuatu's priorities, particularly climate change and labor mobility.
Initialled against the backdrop of Mount Yasur's active volcano, the agreement reflects Australia's renewed priority due to increasing geopolitical competition in the region, notably with China. It was signed by Australian senior ministers, including Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, and Pacific Minister Pat Conroy, alongside their Vanuatu counterparts.
Provisions The agreement establishes a framework for long-term cooperation between Australia and Vanuatu, including:
Security and policing cooperation. Protection of critical infrastructure from militarisation and foreign interference. Maritime security and disaster response. Economic development and infrastructure investment. Climate resilience and development assistance. Expanded labour mobility and people-to-people ties.
Criticism and challenges Due to Vanuatu's current political instability, the implementation of this agreement faces challenges which is further exemplified by the 2025 snap election, and logistical issues post-2024 Port Vila earthquake. Also, the lack of transparency about the details (of the agreement) has raised concerns about public reception and accountability. On the other hand, Vanuatu's "golden passport" scheme has been criticized for security risks, may complicate future negotiations. In Australia, aligning strict immigration policies with Vanuatu's visa-free travel demands remains a hurdle. More than that, Australia's A$500 million investment is seen as a response to Chinese infrastructure projects.
See also Australia–Vanuatu relations China–Vanuatu relations
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