AAP: AS prime minister, Jotham Napat is likely to set a steady course for Vanuatu’s foreign relations while focusing on domestic pressures facing his nation.
Vanuatu is likely to maintain its policy of non-alignment under new prime minister Jotham Napat, who will balance support from different regional powers as he focuses on domestic issues.
Mr Napat, whose Leaders Party won the most seats in Vanuatu’s January 16 election, became prime minister on Tuesday when his nomination went unopposed in parliament.
Vanuatu-watchers and close associates believe his coalition – which includes parties from the previous government – will continue to chart a steady course internationally.
“Friends to all, enemies to none,” surmised Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Blake Johnson.
In a system which often recycles its leaders, Mr Napat is a first-time prime minister, but no stranger on the international stage.
Mr Napat has been deputy prime minister and foreign minister in previous governments.
He helped to champion Vanuatu’s landmark climate advocacy, including rallying other nations to support its push to get the International Court of Justice to issue an advisory opinion on high-emitting countries’ legal responsibilities.
The 52-year-old is a man of deep faith, who leads a congregation on his home island of Tanna, and regularly updates social media followers with bible passages.
A keen fisherman, he will be keen to maximise Vanuatu’s sustainable take, both to bolster the economy and the government’s bottom line.
Prior to entering politics, he was a meteorologist – including training at Melbourne’s RMIT University – who rose through the departmental ranks in emergency management.
In 2015, he was responsible for Vanuatu’s disaster recovery in the aftermath of category-five tropical cyclone Pam, which devastated much of the country.
“He had developed a stellar reputation for his work and was in charge of co-ordinating the humanitarian response … he was under a lot of pressure and delivered,” Glen Craig, Vanuatu’s Special Envoy for International Business, told AAP.
Mr Craig, who has travelled extensively with Mr Napat, said he was a practical man, more concerned with local affairs than regional or global issues.
“He likes being home and Vanuatu,” he said.
“He’s got respect for Australia and respect for New Zealand and he’s got a good relationship with China. All of our development partners will be pleased.
Congratulations to Jotham Napat on his election as Prime Minister of Vanuatu – and Marc Ati on his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“When asked ‘why does Vanuatu go with Chinese projects’, he’s said ‘Because you ask and they give the funding and it’s done. The process might be significantly longer with other donor partners’.
“He sees that as an issue to streamline. He is very grateful for any donor partner support. He knows we need it to expand and he also knows we need to grow our economic base.”
Mr Johnson noted Mr Napat, in his first speech and interview as prime minister, singled out the US as a partner he was keen to work with more closely.
“That’s probably based around the concerns with USAID right now,” he said, referring to President Donald Trump’s executive orders to freeze US support.
“Everyone is worried they’re going to step away … it’s not necessarily Vanuatu taking a side, it’s that (the US) stays interested.”
Mihai Sora, the Lowy Institute’s Pacific Islands Program director, said Vanuatu had walked a middle path well – so far.
“Vanuatu is the poster child of geopolitical balancing in the Pacific,” he said.
“That said, the stakes in Vanuatu are escalating, amid intensifying competition in the region and increasing domestic security pressures locally.”
Mr Blake said Mr Napat’s election meant a shelved bilateral security agreement with Australia – signed in 2022 but never ratified due to domestic pushback – was likely to remain off the cards.
Mr Napat becomes Vanuatu’s fifth leader since 2022, a record of instability his five-party coalition government is keen to end.
Both in his first address as prime minister, and in a crucial Memorandum of Agreement policy priority document which underpins the coalition government, Mr Napat has put his central priority as lasting a full term.
His government must also manage Vanuatu’s recovery from December’s 7.3-magnitude earthquake which devastated the capital, Port Vila.
