Feleti Teo: Tuvalu ‘on the verge of ratifying the treaty’

Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo attends the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, August 2024.
photo: RNZ Pacific/Lydia Lewis

Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Te’o said Australia had committed to assisting Tuvalu with climate adaptation through the Treaty of Faleapiri Union.

this The agreement was signed late last year – With label Tuvalu’s former leader calls it ‘shameful’ – A special visa pathway has been created between the two countries for citizens of Tuvalu to reside in Australia.

Under Article 4 of the treaty, Australia also has the power to veto any security agreement Tuvalu may sign with other countries. Some experts said It is aimed at China.

Article 4.4 of the treaty states: “Tuvalu shall mutually agree with Australia on partnerships, arrangements or engagements with any other country or entity on security and defence related matters. Such matters shall include, but are not limited to, defence, policing, border protection, cyber security and critical infrastructure, including ports, telecommunications and energy infrastructure.”

However, Teo told RNZ Pacific radio in Tonga that the treaty was much broader and Australia had addressed Tuvalu’s concerns in Article 4 “very adequately”.

“We have worked out an arrangement that works, we are satisfied with it, and we are on the verge of ratifying the treaty,” he said.

“Australia is committed to assisting Tuvalu in addressing the impacts of climate change, including building resilience in coastal areas and adapting coastlines to the impacts of sea level rise.

The Australian government said “safeguarding Tuvalu’s future is at the heart of the Farapili Alliance”.

Mr Teo said the arrangement demonstrated Australia’s commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to tackle the climate crisis.

“Australia has not made an explicit commitment, but as they have committed to assisting us (under the Farlepilly Coalition), I believe this will be a useful platform for us to use their commitment to continue to contribute to lowering global emission levels.”

“Rabuka agreed.”

Former Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natano, who signed the treaty with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, told RNZ Pacific in November 2023 that the treaty allowed Tuvalu to “maintain our identity on the face of this planet”.

Kausia said at the time that Tuvalu would seek to negotiate similar treaties with other Pacific nations such as New Zealand and Fiji.

Teo said while he had not held any dialogue with New Zealand, he had held talks with Fiji and agreed to work out a bilateral agreement.

“I have requested and Prime Minister (Sitiweni) Rabuka has agreed that we develop a bilateral framework agreement which will provide the parameters so that we can enhance cooperation and collaboration in different areas.”

Tuvalu will continue to maintain relations with Taiwan

The prime minister also said he was not considering abandoning relations with Taiwan in favor of China.

Nauru was the latest country to cut ties with Taiwan in January as the island continues to lose allies in the Pacific. Kiribati severed ties with Beijing in 2019.

Zhang Zhixian said that their relationship with Taipei is based on respect for democracy.

“We have a long-standing relationship with Taiwan, and I think we are one of the three forum members that have and continue to have a relationship with Taiwan.

“We want to continue to have that relationship and we are not considering engaging with mainland China.”