Fiji, Oct. 13 -- Australia's recently agreed treaty with Vanuatu will step up policing partnerships but not stop foreign military from setting up shop as domestic law already forbids it.
The Nakamal Agreement, signed by leaders Anthony Albanese and Jotham Napat in Port Vila in June, was probed by senators on Monday.
The treaty includes a clause which explicitly states Vanuatu should not allow foreign powers to use its territory for defence bases or infrastructure.
Australian leaders, including Pacific Minister Pat Conroy, have trumpeted that the Nakamal Agreement acts as a bulwark against a possible foreign miliary foothold in one of Australia's closest neighbours.
On Monday, Jan Hutton, a foreign affairs department executive, told the ...