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Vanuatu

The United States and Vanuatu established diplomatic relations in 1986, six years after Vanuatu's independence from France and the United Kingdom. The US Ambassador to Papua New Guinea is also accredited to Vanuatu. US representation is handled by the US Embassy in Papua New Guinea. Peace Corps maintains a country office in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The United States and Vanuatu share a commitment to strengthening democracy, enhancing security, and promoting development.

Capital

Port Vila

Head of State

President Nikenike Vurobaravu

Head of Government

Prime Minister Bob Loughman

The volcanic islands of Matthew (pictured) and Hunter lie several hundred kilometres east of the French overseas territory of New Caledonia but are also claimed by Vanuatu. Photo: Google Maps

United Nations

France digs in on Pacific islands claim as Vanuatu turns to World Court

Vanuatu says it will seek UN General Assembly opinion if Paris does not accept the ICJ’s jurisdiction on the disputed outcrops.

4 Sep 2026 - 10:44AM

China-Australia relations

In Focus | How Pacific nations walk a tightrope between Western security and Chinese trade

23 Aug 2026 - 7:05AMvideocam

Environment

Opinion | The race for critical minerals is clearing the path for deep-sea mining

11 Aug 2026 - 5:30AM

US-China relations

Top Chinese South Pacific security partner to let US patrol its waters

Agreement will allow US vessels to patrol with local police as Honiara expands maritime ties with Washington despite close Beijing links.

22 Jul 2026 - 6:59AM

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has announced plans for a maritime agreement allowing the US Coast Guard to patrol the country’s waters alongside local police. Photo: EPA

Pacific nations

China sends a message to Pacific islands amid unease over missile test

Solomons prime minister has pledged to review China pact while advancing talks on a comprehensive treaty with Australia.

14 Jul 2026 - 8:42PMvideocam

Pacific nations

Vanuatu bans ‘foreign’ military bases in new security pact with Australia

The treaty is the latest in a string of Pacific deals Australia has signed seeking to curb China’s expanding security influence.

29 Jun 2026 - 12:44PM

US-China relations

Can China fill funding and leadership gaps after America quit the WHO?

Beijing is now the global health body’s biggest assessed contributor, but its voluntary donations remained low in 2025.

3 Jun 2026 - 8:41AMvideocam

Hong Kong economy

Vanuatu seeks Hong Kong’s regulatory expertise, woos investors and tourists

Prime Minister Jotham Napat calls visit ‘pivotal moment’ for bilateral relations, as delegation meets senior officials, including Chief Executive John Lee.

28 Jan 2026 - 7:04PM

Australia

Will Australia’s defence pact with Papua New Guinea curb China’s Pacific sway?

The defence treaty strengthens ties, counters China’s influence, and offers PNG citizens a path to Australian citizenship.

2 Oct 2025 - 5:52PM

Pacific nations

Pacific Islands leaders call for ‘ocean of peace’ but face rough seas at summit

The Pacific Islands Forum has been clouded by allegations that host Solomon Islands did not invite Taiwan to please its close backer.

10 Sep 2025 - 5:18PM

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Baron Waqa receives a gift from a Solomon Islander during the opening ceremony on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

Climate change

Opinion | World Court’s ruling opens the door wider for climate justice

The court’s decision could result in legal action against countries that fail to honour their climate commitments.

29 Jul 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

On July 19, children play with swings on an uprooted tree along a beach in Mele, Vanuatu that was once lined with vegetation lost to storms, erosion and other environmental pressures. Photo: AP

Banking & finance

Vanuatu looks to Hong Kong to support digital finance, economic plans

‘We have the digital transformation vision and I have got to look at places with experience like Hong Kong,’ Deputy PM Rasou says.

28 Jul 2025 - 7:30AM

Climate change

World’s top court just changed the game for climate action

The landmarks ruling holds that countries and big corporations have a legal duty to shield people from environmental harm.

24 Jul 2025 - 5:00PMvideocam

Pacific nations

Tiny Pacific nations fear US travel bans. Why?

Tuvalu, Tonga and Vanuatu all appeared on a list of nations facing new visa curbs. A US official says Washington has ‘valid concerns’.

2 Jul 2025 - 4:38PMvideocam

A man sat in a hammock drinks coconut milk on Funafuti Atoll, Tuvalu. Photo: AFP

Pacific nations

A drop in the ocean? Pacific nations tap local know-how for marine conservation

Among the measures being taken are a ban on fishing and mining activities in vast marine protected areas.

27 Jun 2025 - 9:30AM

Children take a canoe to school in Solomon Islands. Pacific island nations have stepped up their marine conservation plans. Photo: Shutterstock

Pacific nations

Most Pacific island women don’t work. The World Bank wants to change that

Outdated laws and social norms keep 57 per cent of working-age women across the Pacific out of the labour force, the bank says.

17 Jun 2025 - 12:03PM

Pacific nations

Vanuatu seeks to cancel Andrew Tate’s ‘golden passport’ citizenship

A spokesman for Vanuatu’s government says there is a ‘lapse’ in Tate’s case under the citizenship-for-sale scheme.

4 Jun 2025 - 2:23PM

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong charity aims to bring traditional Chinese medicine to African nation

GX Foundation says it is cooperating with Djibouti’s Ministry of Health to introduce traditional Chinese medicines registered in Hong Kong.

29 May 2025 - 10:37PM

GX Foundation CEO Emily Chan, pictured with a disaster preparedness kit, says the charity’s work has achieved success over the years. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Thailand

Vanuatu golden visas sold in Phuket put citizenship-for-sale risks in spotlight

Officials and analysts warn citizenship-for-sale schemes like Vanuatu’s can be misused to launder money and evade arrest.

9 May 2025 - 5:56PMvideocam

US-China trade war

My Take | The United States, not China, turns out to be the real bogeyman

The significance of Trump’s tariffs is that they have destroyed the credibility of America on which its global alliances have long depended.

6 Apr 2025 - 9:00PM

Australia

Is Australia taking myopic approach in wooing Pacific nations to counter China?

Australia has signed deals with the Solomon Islands, Nauru and Papua New Guinea in moves seen as securing its clout as the Pacific leader.

30 Dec 2024 - 6:23PM

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele of the Solomon Islands in Beijing on July 12. Photo: Xinhua

Pacific nations

Opinion | Why Vanuatu should expect more aftershocks – and maybe another earthquake

A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of Efate, the main island of Vanuatu, earlier this week.

21 Dec 2024 - 12:00PMvideocam

Members of Australia’s federal police and other rescue workers stand by a collapsed building in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Photo: Australian Federal Police via AP

Pacific nations

Death toll from Vanuatu earthquake rises to 14, including 2 Chinese

An embassy official said the two Chinese victims were from Fujian province. More than 200 people were injured in the quake.

18 Dec 2024 - 3:01PM

Pacific nations

Buildings ‘pancaked’ in Vanuatu as 7.4 magnitude earthquake rocks Pacific nation

Footage posted on social media showed buckled windows and collapsed concrete pillars on a building hosting foreign missions in the capital.

17 Dec 2024 - 9:25PM

US-China relations

US, Britain stress unity towards China as new strategic dialogue opens in London

Top diplomats tout allies’ strengthening ties and ‘indispensable’ partnership as Washington vies to blunt Beijing’s Indo-Pacific influence.

11 Sep 2024 - 5:34AMvideocam

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy attend a press conference as part of a strategic dialogue in London on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

US-China relations

As No 2 US envoy ends Pacific tour, Beijing scores a diplomatic win on Taiwan

After Beijing envoy demands ‘correction’, Pacific Islands Forum scraps Taiwan reference from its annual summit’s final communique.

1 Sep 2024 - 12:39AMvideocam

US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell (left) attends a ceremony in Port Vila, Vanuatu, on Thursday to repatriate sacred human relics seized in New York by the FBI in 2016. Campbell also attended the opening of America’s new embassy in the Pacific nation. Photo: Reuters

Pacific nations

Australia urged to cut fossil fuels as Pacific backs landmark policing plan

Activists say better leadership must come from Australia, accused of ‘climate fraud’ over its continued expansion of gas and coal projects.

29 Aug 2024 - 9:00AM

Pacific nations

China, Australia donate buildings, airstrips in Pacific influence race

China donated a presidential building complex in Vanuatu, while Australia and New Zealand inaugurated an airstrip in neighbouring Solomon Islands, amid competition for influence in the Pacific.

2 Jul 2024 - 6:22PM

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Vanuatu

France digs in on Pacific islands claim as Vanuatu turns to World Court

Vanuatu says it will seek UN General Assembly opinion if Paris does not accept the ICJ’s jurisdiction on the disputed outcrops.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}In Focus | How Pacific nations walk a tightrope between Western security and Chinese trade

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | The race for critical minerals is clearing the path for deep-sea mining

Top Chinese South Pacific security partner to let US patrol its waters

Agreement will allow US vessels to patrol with local police as Honiara expands maritime ties with Washington despite close Beijing links.

China sends a message to Pacific islands amid unease over missile test

Solomons prime minister has pledged to review China pact while advancing talks on a comprehensive treaty with Australia.

Vanuatu bans ‘foreign’ military bases in new security pact with Australia

The treaty is the latest in a string of Pacific deals Australia has signed seeking to curb China’s expanding security influence.

Can China fill funding and leadership gaps after America quit the WHO?

Beijing is now the global health body’s biggest assessed contributor, but its voluntary donations remained low in 2025.

Vanuatu seeks Hong Kong’s regulatory expertise, woos investors and tourists

Prime Minister Jotham Napat calls visit ‘pivotal moment’ for bilateral relations, as delegation meets senior officials, including Chief Executive John Lee.

Will Australia’s defence pact with Papua New Guinea curb China’s Pacific sway?

The defence treaty strengthens ties, counters China’s influence, and offers PNG citizens a path to Australian citizenship.

Pacific Islands leaders call for ‘ocean of peace’ but face rough seas at summit

The Pacific Islands Forum has been clouded by allegations that host Solomon Islands did not invite Taiwan to please its close backer.

Opinion | World Court’s ruling opens the door wider for climate justice

The court’s decision could result in legal action against countries that fail to honour their climate commitments.

Vanuatu looks to Hong Kong to support digital finance, economic plans

‘We have the digital transformation vision and I have got to look at places with experience like Hong Kong,’ Deputy PM Rasou says.

World’s top court just changed the game for climate action

The landmarks ruling holds that countries and big corporations have a legal duty to shield people from environmental harm.

Tiny Pacific nations fear US travel bans. Why?

Tuvalu, Tonga and Vanuatu all appeared on a list of nations facing new visa curbs. A US official says Washington has ‘valid concerns’.

A drop in the ocean? Pacific nations tap local know-how for marine conservation

Among the measures being taken are a ban on fishing and mining activities in vast marine protected areas.

Most Pacific island women don’t work. The World Bank wants to change that

Outdated laws and social norms keep 57 per cent of working-age women across the Pacific out of the labour force, the bank says.

Vanuatu seeks to cancel Andrew Tate’s ‘golden passport’ citizenship

A spokesman for Vanuatu’s government says there is a ‘lapse’ in Tate’s case under the citizenship-for-sale scheme.

Hong Kong charity aims to bring traditional Chinese medicine to African nation

GX Foundation says it is cooperating with Djibouti’s Ministry of Health to introduce traditional Chinese medicines registered in Hong Kong.

Vanuatu golden visas sold in Phuket put citizenship-for-sale risks in spotlight

Officials and analysts warn citizenship-for-sale schemes like Vanuatu’s can be misused to launder money and evade arrest.

My Take | The United States, not China, turns out to be the real bogeyman

The significance of Trump’s tariffs is that they have destroyed the credibility of America on which its global alliances have long depended.

Is Australia taking myopic approach in wooing Pacific nations to counter China?

Australia has signed deals with the Solomon Islands, Nauru and Papua New Guinea in moves seen as securing its clout as the Pacific leader.

Opinion | Why Vanuatu should expect more aftershocks – and maybe another earthquake

A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of Efate, the main island of Vanuatu, earlier this week.

Death toll from Vanuatu earthquake rises to 14, including 2 Chinese

An embassy official said the two Chinese victims were from Fujian province. More than 200 people were injured in the quake.

Buildings ‘pancaked’ in Vanuatu as 7.4 magnitude earthquake rocks Pacific nation

Footage posted on social media showed buckled windows and collapsed concrete pillars on a building hosting foreign missions in the capital.

US, Britain stress unity towards China as new strategic dialogue opens in London

Top diplomats tout allies’ strengthening ties and ‘indispensable’ partnership as Washington vies to blunt Beijing’s Indo-Pacific influence.

As No 2 US envoy ends Pacific tour, Beijing scores a diplomatic win on Taiwan

After Beijing envoy demands ‘correction’, Pacific Islands Forum scraps Taiwan reference from its annual summit’s final communique.

Australia urged to cut fossil fuels as Pacific backs landmark policing plan

Activists say better leadership must come from Australia, accused of ‘climate fraud’ over its continued expansion of gas and coal projects.

China, Australia donate buildings, airstrips in Pacific influence race

China donated a presidential building complex in Vanuatu, while Australia and New Zealand inaugurated an airstrip in neighbouring Solomon Islands, amid competition for influence in the Pacific.

In Focus | How Pacific nations walk a tightrope between Western security and Chinese trade

Opinion | The race for critical minerals is clearing the path for deep-sea mining