Australia has signed a treaty with Tuvalu that will give it widespread access and influence in the small country and its exclusive economic zone.
Called the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union, the agreement states that the interests of both countries "are intertwined and the decisions taken by one Party affect the interests of the other".
Under the treaty Tuvalu has to get Australia’s approval for any partnership, arrangement or engagement it wants to make with any other country on security and defence-related matters, even building critical infrastructure "including ports, telecommunications and energy infrastructure".
Tuvalu has clear strategic military interest for Australia in the Pacific, and both countries will work out timeframes and conditions for Australian personnel to operate in Tuvalu’s territory.
In exchange, Tuvalu is to get $16.9 million in climate adaptation projects to extend the land by 6 per cent. Access for Tuvaluans to live and work in Australia is also on the cards but for now, that’s limited to up to 280 people annually.
At the treaty signing Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described it as groundbreaking.
"Australia commits to provide assistance to Tuvalu in response to a major natural disaster to a health pandemic or to military aggression," he said.
Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natano told 1News his Government was firm on sovereignty being protected.
He said the reason he was signing the document was because his country is at the frontline of climate change. It's understood that Tuvalu, which recognises Taiwan, has been under relentless pressure from China to switch allegiances.
The treaty has been kept under wraps in Tuvalu and the public has not been made aware of the details.
However, 1News has been investigating the formation of the treaty for months and spoke with a number of Tuvaluans about how they feel about aligning with a bigger power. Most were wary of it.
"I really hope we will come to the table with our own conditions for them because at the end of the day, we are just people who care for our island," one person said.
"I think it's uncertain — the future is uncertain. That is worrying on its own in terms of climate change, in terms of the military activity happening," another added.
Natano said there are still details to be ironed out – Tuvalu’s population of 11,000 will be waiting to hear what it all means for them.
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