Australia announced on Friday a security guarantee for the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu to respond to military aggression, protect it from climate change and boost migration in a pact aimed at countering China’s influence in the Pacific.
According to the treaty announced by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Tuvalu counterpart Kausea Natano, Australia will also examine Tuvalu’s security arrangements with other nations.
Albanese said it was Australia’s most significant agreement with a Pacific island nation, giving “a guarantee that upon a request from Tuvalu for any military assistance based on security issues, Australia will be there”. Tuvalu is one of 13 countries that maintains an official diplomatic relationship with Taiwan, as Beijing has made increasing inroads in the Pacific.
According to the treaty, “both countries undertake to mutually agree on any partnership, agreement or commitment with any other state or entity on matters relating to security and defense in Tuvalu”, Albanese said at a news conference on the sidelines of a meeting of Pacific leaders in Cook. Islands.
