Port Vila, 9 September 2025 — Prime Minister Jotham Napat says his government will not sign any agreement that risks undermining Vanuatu’s broader relationships with other partners.

Speaking to local media and International Media in Port Vila today, Mr. Napat was responding to mounting questions over his refusal to endorse the much-discussed “Nakamal Agreement” with Australia.

“Some of my Ministers and MPs feel the Agreement requires more discussions particularly on some of the specific wordings in the Agreement.” he said.

When asked: “Will it limit opportunities to get funding from other countries?”

Napat answered: “Yes.”

The statement came during a Joint Press Conference with the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s who is on an official visit to Port Vila, where bilateral talks focused on development cooperation, climate change, and security.

Australia Prime Minister, Albanese said: “There is agreement on the principles that had been agreed in the issue of the Nakamal Agreement, I respect the process that Prime Minister Napat needs to go through. I am confident that the agreement can be reached.” Both leaders will leave tomorrow for the Pacific Islands Forum in Honiara.