Foreign relations of Vanuatu
Country Formal relations established Notes
Abkhazia 23 May 2011 Main article : Abkhazia-Vanuatu relations On 23 May 2011 , Vanuatu became the fifth UN member state ( after Russia , Nicaragua , Venezuela and Nauru ) to recognise Abkhazia . On this day joint statement on establishment of diplomatic relations was signed . At the same time of signing a visa-free travel regime between the two countries was established . Foreign Affairs Minister Alfred Carlot said that Vanuatus foreign policy aims at eradicating colonialism from the face of the earth . In a press release , Carlot stated : Vanuatu is neutral ; our recognition of Abkhazia does not in any way mean that we can not have diplomatic relations with the Republic of Georgia . The following month , however , the Vanuatu government of Prime Minister Sato Kilman was voided by the Supreme Court of Vanuatu , on the grounds that Kilman 's election in December 2010 had not conformed to constitutional requirements . Former Prime Minister Edward Natapei became interim prime minister until a new leader could be elected . Natapei promptly withdrew Vanuatu 's recognition of Abkhazia , arguing that it had been granted by an illegitimate government , and announced that he would seek to establish diplomatic relations with Georgia , recognising its sovereignty over Abkhazia . On 26 June 2011 Sato Kilman was re-elected Prime Minister and on 12 July 2011 Vanuatu 's Foreign Minister Alfred Carlot re-confirmed Vanuatu 's recognition of Abkhazia . On 12 July 2011 the Ambassador of Abkhazia in the Asia-Pacific region Juris Gulbis stated , that Abkhazia and Vanuatu plans to sign a framework agreement on cooperation in the field of culture , trade and banking sector . According to him , the Government of Vanuatu twice confirmed the establishment of diplomatic relations with Abkhazia and of their intention to contribute to the development of friendly ties between the two States
Argentina 13 March 1987 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 March 1987
Armenia 2013 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 September 2013 . The Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu Charlot Salwai , who visited Armenia on his official visit for the XVII Francophone Summit , gave a visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex with the accompaniment of Aramayis Grigoryan , the Deputy Minister of Diaspora of the RA . The ni-Vanuatu visitors were welcomed by Harutyun Marutyan , the director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute , who , in his turn , gave a brief introduction to the notable people who previously have visited the complex and the history , as well as the symbolism , of the complex . The Prime Minister of Vanuatu laid a wreath at the Memorial and put flowers at the eternal fire which is lit to honor the memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian genocide , with the accompaniment of the delegation . Furthermore , the delegation made a tour around the Memory Wall , got familiar with its meaning and significance . The delegation also visited the Armenian Genocide Museum alongside the Complex and , at the end of their tour , Prime Minister Salwai left a note in the Memory Book of the museum : In commemoration of the disappeared people of the Armenian Genocide… I express my deep sorrow to the children of the Armenian nation . Let God bless Armenia . The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute director Harutyun Marutyan awarded the Prime Minister of Vanuatu the Aurora Mardiganyan medal , and the book Armenian Genocide : Front page Coverage in the World Press
Australia Australia and Vanuatu have very strong ties . Australia has provided the bulk of Vanuatu 's military assistance , training its paramilitary mobile force and also providing patrol boats to patrol Vanuatu 's waters . In 1983 , Vanuatu and Australia entered into a Defence Cooperation Program together . As part of this program , two Royal Australian Navy advisers are stationed in Vanuatu Australia to assist Vanuatu in maintaining and operating the RVS Tukoro , the Pacific class patrol boat donated to Vanuatu by Australia in 1987 . The RVS Tukoro is Vanuatu 's primarily maritime police vessel . Australia also provides assistance to the Mobile Force element of the Vanuatu Police Force ( VPF ) , as well as providing support to exercises and infrastructure projects . Australia is Vanuatu 's largest source of foreign direct investment , mostly directed in the areas of tourist development , agriculture and construction . Australia is Vanuatu 's largest source of tourists , with Australians making up 2/3 of all long-term tourist visitors and virtually all cruise ship visits . Since 2008 , Vanuatu ( along with Tonga , Kiribati and Papua New Guinea ) has sent seasonal workers to Australia through the Australian government-funded Pacific Seasonal Workers Pilot Scheme ( PSWPS ) . Additionally , Australia is Vanuatu 's main source of foreign aid , with the Australian providing A $ 66 million ( US $ 70.4 million ) in 2010-11 . In 2004 , Australia threatened to cut its aid to Vanuatu when then-Prime Minister Serge Vohor reappointed officials who had been dismissed after being charged with criminal activity . Vanuatu agreed to Australian demands for more transparent government and anti-corruption steps . The result was that from 2005-2010 , Australian aid was governed through the Australia-Vanuatu Joint Development Cooperation Strategy . This was superseded with the signing in May 2009 of the Australia-Vanuatu Partnership for Development . The central focus of the Partnership is for Australia to assist Vanuatu in achieving its UN Millennium Development Goals ( MDG 's ) . The priorities stated in the Partnership are to •support increased access and quality of education for boys and girls and equip them with relevant skills and knowledge •strengthen health services and accelerate progress towards health MDGs •develop essential infrastructure to support economic growth and service delivery •progress reform on economic governance •address equality of opportunity for all men and women and include the needs and priorities of people with disability in development activities ( full text of Partnership agreement )
China 26 March 1982 See China-Vanuatu relations China established an embassy in Vanuatu in 1989 , while Vanuatu established an honorary consulate in China in 1999 ; it officially became an embassy in 2005 . Vanuatu briefly recognized the Republic of China ( Taiwan ) in late 2004 when on 3 November Prime Minister Serge Vohor signed a communiqué in Taipei with ROC Foreign Minister Mark Chen . Taipei had offered $ 30 million in aid in return ( compared with the $ 10 million given by the PRC ) . Under the One-China policy , this would result in the severing of ties with the People 's Republic of China . Vohor did so without consultations with his cabinet and the PRC Foreign Ministry , quoting the Vanuatu Foreign Minister , denied ties with the ROC had been established . The Vanuatu Council of Ministers , in the Prime Minister 's absence , announced on 11 November that the communiqué had been withdrawn . A spokesman for the Prime Minister denied this a day later . There were reports that previous attempts by Vohor to travel to Taipei were thwarted amid pressure from Beijing so his latest visit was done secretly on purpose . For a period of few weeks , both the PRC and ROC had diplomatic missions posted in Vanuatu while the Vanuatu government was in internal disagreement . At one point Prime Minister Vohor punched the PRC ambassador when approached to explain why the flag of the Republic of China was flying over the hotel where the Taiwanese representative was posted . The standoff ended on 11 December 2004 when the parliament passed a motion of no-confidence against Vohor and replaced him with Ham Lini . In May 2009 , Vanuatu appointed its first ever ambassador to China , former Minister of Finance Willie Jimmy . Jimmy call [ ed ] [ ... ] for China to have a foot firmly planted in the Pacific through Port Vila , which -the Vanuatu Daily Post remarked- no doubt caused ruffled feathers among other foreign diplomatic partners . On the Chinese parade due to the 70th Anniversary of the end of World War II , policemen from Vanuatu participated . On 27 February 2017 , the Chinese ambassador to Vanuatu , handed over the keys for 14 military vehicles to the Vanuatu Mobile Force . This was done as an effort to safeguard the Vanuatu 's sovereignty
Croatia 2000 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 April 2000
Cuba 1983 See Cuba-Vanuatu relations Vanuatu and Cuba established official diplomatic relations in 1983 . In the late 2000s , Vanuatu began to strengthen its relations with Cuba . Cuba provides medical aid to Vanuatu , sending doctors to the country and providing scholarships for ni-Vanuatu medical students to study in Cuba . In September 2008 , a representative of the ni-Vanuatu government attended the first Cuba-Pacific Islands ministerial meeting in Havana . The meeting aimed at strengthening cooperation between Cuba and Pacific Island countries , notably in coping with the effects of climate change
Cyprus Cyprus is represented in Vanuatu by ts embassy in Canberra , Australia . Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations
France 1980 See France-Vanuatu relations Current relations between France and Vanuatu , as seen by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Georgia 12 July 2013 Georgia and Vanuatu established diplomatic relations on 12 July 2013
India 1986 See India-Vanuatu relations Current relations between India and Vanuatu , Indian Ministry of External Affairs Indian High Commission for Vanuatu accreditation is at Suva , Fiji . As per the Indo-Vanautu pact , Indians does not require visa to visit Vanuatu
Israel 1993 Vanuatu and Israel established relations in 1993 and relations are conducted through Israel 's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem . Vanuatu recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel
Italy Italy has an honorary consulate in Port Vila
Libya 1986 See Libya-Vanuatu relations Vanuatu 's foreign policy in the 1980s , under Prime Minister Father Walter Lini , was based on refusing alignment with either bloc in the context of the Cold War , distinguishing it from every other country of Oceania , aligned with the West
Lithuania 18 November 2001 Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 November 2001
Mexico 30 October 1986 Mexico is accredited to Vanuatu from its embassy in Canberra , Australia . Vanuatu does not have an accreditation to Mexico
Netherlands Vanuatu has an honorary consulate in Gravenhage
New Zealand New Zealand has a high commission in Port Vila . Vanuatu has a high commission in Wellington and a consulate-general in Auckland
Palestine 21 August 1989 Vanuatu recognized the State of Palestine on 21 August 1989 . On 19 October 1989 both States established diplomatic relations . Non-resident embassy of Palestine based in Canberra , Australia . In 2011 , Vanuatu was one of fifteen countries to oppose Palestine 's application to join UNESCO , as part of its bid for greater international recognition . Vanuatu former Foreign Affairs Minister and former chairman of the Vanuatu National Commission for UNESCO Joe Natuman expressed surprise at his country 's position , saying it appeared to contradict Vanuatu 's long-standing support for Palestine . He raised the issue in Parliament , whereupon Prime Minister Sato Kilman assured him he had not been aware that the country was voting against Palestine 's membership of UNESCO , and that he would review this decision . On that occasion , Kilman reportedly clarified Vanuatu 's position with regard to Palestine , saying Vanuatu will always maintain its position to support the right of the Palestinian people to a homeland but at the same time with Israel existing as a state on its own , with secure borders
Russia 30 June 1986 See Russia-Vanuatu relations In 1987 , Vanuatu authorised Soviet vessels to fish within Vanuatu 's Exclusive Economic Zone , in exchange for economic aid . The agreement lapsed the following year , and was not renewed , due to disagreements over the price to be paid for fishing rights by the USSR
Relations by country
Diplomatic relations of Vanuatu
Vanuatu maintains relations with more than 65 countries, and has a small network of diplomatic missions. Australia, France, Republic of Korea, New Zealand and the People's Republic of China maintain embassies, high commissions, or missions in Port Vila. The British High Commission closed in 2005 after maintaining a presence for almost a century. The government's main concern has been to bolster the economy. In keeping with its need for financial assistance, Vanuatu has joined the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to ABC Radio Australia, Foreign policy issues that feature in Vanuatu include wide support for the Free West Papua Movement and broadly for independence throughout Melanesia, the One China Policy and relations with Australia and New Zealand. On the latter topic, guest worker programmes feature prominently.