Former Attorney General Feleti Teo Named Prime Minister of Tuvalu After Elections
In a surprising turn of events, former Attorney General Feleti Teo has been named the new prime minister of Tuvalu, a tiny South Pacific nation. This announcement comes after the recent elections that saw the ousting of the previous government leader. Teo was the sole candidate nominated by his 15 lawmaker colleagues, and Governor General Tofiga Vaevalu Falani declared him elected without a vote. The swearing-in ceremony for Teo and his Cabinet is scheduled to take place later this week.
The change in leadership raises questions about China’s influence in Tuvalu, a country located between Australia and Hawaii with a population of approximately 11,500 people. It remains unclear how the new government will impact the existing relationship between Tuvalu and China.
The previous prime minister, Kausea Natano, and three of his ministers were not reelected in the recent elections. Natano had advocated for Tuvalu to maintain its official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a self-governed democracy that China claims as its own territory. However, his former Finance Minister Seve Paeniu, who was considered a potential leader, argued for a review of Tuvalu’s relationships with both Beijing and Taiwan.
One significant consequence of the new government could be the potential rewriting or scrapping of a proposed security treaty between Tuvalu and Australia. This treaty, announced in November of last year, obligated Australia to assist Tuvalu in response to major natural disasters, pandemics, and military aggression. Additionally, Australia offered Tuvaluans a lifeline to escape the rising seas and increased storms caused by climate change. Under the treaty, Australia would initially allow up to 280 Tuvaluans to migrate to Australia each year. Furthermore, Australia would hold veto power over any security or defense-related agreement that Tuvalu wishes to make with other countries, including China.
Enele Sopoaga, a Tuvalu lawmaker and former prime minister, opposes the treaty. However, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mentioned the treaty when congratulating Teo on his election, emphasizing the importance of the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union.
Meg Keen, director of the Pacific Island Program at the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based think tank, believes that the new government will review the treaty and make adjustments to suit their own agenda. She remains optimistic that negotiations can lead to refinements in the treaty. George Carter, an expert on international politics from the Australian National University, suggests that Teo’s supporters want Tuvalu to maintain relations with Taiwan and that a shift towards Beijing is unlikely in the near future.
While Teo has received support from a majority of the lawmakers, he has reportedly excluded Sopoaga and Paeniu from his Cabinet. This decision indicates that Teo aims to maintain continuity in terms of support for Taiwan, at least for now.
The political landscape in Tuvalu is evolving, and with the appointment of Feleti Teo as prime minister, the country’s future direction is uncertain. As the new government settles in, it remains to be seen how they will navigate their relationships with China, Taiwan, and Australia. The fate of the proposed security treaty with Australia hangs in the balance, awaiting review and potential refinements. Tuvalu’s vulnerability to climate change adds another layer of complexity to its diplomatic considerations. Only time will tell how Prime Minister Teo and his Cabinet will shape the future of this small Pacific nation.
