Australia's prime minister Anthony Albanese and Tuvalu's prime minister Kausea Natano signed a treaty known as the ‘Falepili Union’. Photo: Anthony Albanese
Tuvalu's Prime Minister is throwing everything he can at securing treaties with his pacific neighbours before his country is submerged under water.
Australia has announced an agreement with Tuvalu which will allow 280 people per year a "special mobility pathway" to "live, work and study" in Australia.
In return, Australia will have effective veto power over Tuvalu's security arrangements with any other country.
Prime Minister Kausea Natano now wants to secure similar treaty arrangements with New Zealand.
RNZ Pacific's Lydia Lewis reports.
