Mon Dec 09 18:54:03 UTC 2024: ## Australia Strikes Deal with Nauru, Limiting China’s Influence in Pacific
**Canberra, Australia –** Australia has secured a multimillion-dollar security agreement with the Pacific island nation of Nauru, granting Australia veto power over Nauru’s dealings with third countries, particularly China. The five-year, AU$140 million ($89 million USD) deal, announced Monday, includes AU$40 million ($26 million USD) for enhanced policing and security.
The agreement, similar to a previous deal with Tuvalu, gives Australia joint decision-making authority over Nauru’s security, banking, and telecommunications partnerships. This follows concerns about China’s growing influence in the region, exemplified by a 2022 security pact between China and the Solomon Islands.
Nauru President David Adeang described the partnership with Australia, its former colonial power, as “vital.” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated the treaty recognizes the interconnected security interests of both nations.
Analysts interpret the agreement as a strategic move by Australia to counter China’s expanding reach in the Pacific. Meg Keen of the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based think tank, noted that Nauru has effectively ceded control over certain deals with third parties in exchange for substantial Australian funding. A key element of the deal is the establishment of a Commonwealth Bank of Australia branch in Nauru next year, replacing Bendigo Bank. The agreement also aims to bolster Nauru’s economy and enhance its resilience.
First Piper 