Vanuatu is not yet ready to sign a security and economic treaty with Australia over concerns the bilateral pact could restrict the South Pacific island nation’s ability to secure infrastructure funding from a third country, Vanuatuan Prime Minister Jotham Napat said on Tuesday.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had hoped to sign the 500 million Australian dollar ($330 million) deal during a visit to the capital, Port Vila, on Tuesday. The agreement is one of several that Australia is pursuing to prevent China from gaining security influence in the region.
