In return for the AUS $ 500 million (around VT38 Billion) aid and demand for visa-waver, Vanuatu has nothing to offer Australia apart from trust, mutual respect and friendship that the two countries shared since 1983.

“We are not offering them anything, it is more of a bilateral agreement that we strike with the government of Australia, we are not offering anything to them,” Prime Minister Jotham Napat told reporters this week.

When asked whether the agreement is geopolitically motivated, Napat said “no”.

“I told them if China is your enemy, it doesn’t mean China is Vanuatu’s enemy.

“Just because Australia gives us so much aid does not mean we will bow down and these are some of the points that we defend during our discussions that our sovereignty is our number one priority.”

Vanuatu has long maintained its non-alignment policy, one of the key bases of its foreign policy since independence.

In terms of geo-politics, with Chinas advancement in the region, the Nakamal Agreement was seen by many as Australia’s bit to limit Vanuatu’s engagement with China.

As to whether the Nakamal agreement could derail Vanuatu from its friends to all and enemies to none policy, Napat says “there are some issues that we went back and forth during the discussions because we feel they undermine our sovereignty which we resolve and agree on proper text.

“We still maintain our position as a sovereign country, friends to all and enemies to none.

“Our sovereignty is not undermined, the agreement is purely based on trust.”

Meanwhile, Australia also has agreements with other countries in the region. Tuvalu is one of these country’s which their agreement gave Australia some degree of control or veto power over their foreign engagements.

“Australia and Tuvalu’s situation is difference, we still welcome assistance from any other donor partners”, said Napat.

After the initial signing at mound Yasur last week, Napat and his Australian counterpart are expected to sign the final agreement early next month.