Fri. Nov 22nd, 2024
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The President of Kiribati has played down the chances of his country striking a treaty with Australia similar to the landmark pact which Anthony Albanese signed late last week with Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Kausea Natano.  

The Falepili Union — inked by Mr Albanese and Mr Natano at the end of the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Rarotonga — will open a new pathway to Australian residency for Tuvalu’s citizens threatened by rising seas, while giving Australia effective veto power over any new security agreements struck by the Pacific island nation.

Kiribati’s President Taneti Maamau told the ABC the agreement would help Australia “look after” Tuvalu’s development needs, and potentially its security needs as well. 

“It’s an important initiative for Australia to take, and I congratulate Australia on taking it,” he said.

sHAKING HANDS
Mr Albanese and Mr Natano officially signed the climate change resettlement agreement in Cook Islands on Friday. (ABC News)

There had already been speculation that Kiribati and Nauru — two other low lying Pacific countries which don’t already have comparable agreements with other countries — might strike similar agreements with Australia in the future.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong left the door ajar to that possibility while speaking on Insiders, suggesting the Falepili Union could serve as a model. 

“That’s a matter for those nations but I think what this does signal is how we are prepared to approach our membership of the Pacific family,” she said.  

But Mr Maamau struck a non-committal tone when the ABC asked him if he’d be open to a similar pact with Australia.

“Maybe, but we have our own strategies and our own initiatives. Australia hasn’t approached us on that,” he told the ABC.

“I think we have our own way of doing things.”

Australian efforts to mend relationship with Kiribati

Australia’s ties with Kiribati have been strained in recent years.

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