Key facts
- Australia and Vanuatu have signed a security pact.
- The pact designates Australia as Vanuatu's preferred security partner.
- Vanuatu has banned foreign military bases as part of the agreement.
Australia and Vanuatu have signed a security pact, with Australia designated as the island nation's preferred security partner. The agreement also includes a clause banning foreign military bases in Vanuatu. This development occurs amidst a broader regional competition for influence in the Pacific.