The recently signed Nakamal Agreement between Vanuatu and Australia represents a continuation of an existing development partnership and should not be viewed as an entirely new arrangement, according to Dr. Grecoir Nimbtick, local expert in governance and development policies.

Dr. Grecoir Nimbtick told VBTC News that the agreement builds on the long-standing Australia–Vanuatu joined development cooperations framework, which is reviewed annually, but has attracted greater public attention because of its new name and the current geopolitical environment.

“Recently we’ve seen crises in the Middle East and growing geopolitical tensions affecting both small and developed countries. This has encouraged countries to strengthen cooperation frameworks so they are comprehensive enough to address development priorities. I think the name ‘Nakamal’ has drawn public attention, together with the current focus on regional security, making the agreement a major topic of discussion.”

Dr. Nimbtick said the agreement should be assessed against Vanuatu’s existing national policy frameworks, particularly the National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) and the National Security Strategy (NSS), which were developed through public consultation.

He said these documents should guide any international agreement signed by the Government.

“These are the two key documents that were developed through wide consultation with our citizens. If there are questions about consultation on the Nakamal Agreement, the Government should be able to demonstrate that the agreement is aligned with these national priorities. Having reviewed the documents, I believe the agreement addresses the same priority areas that Vanuatu has pursued over the years, particularly climate action and humanitarian support.”

Dr. Nimbtick added that if the agreement is properly aligned with Vanuatu’s national development and security priorities, it should not generate unnecessary public concern.