Tuvalu receives patrol-boat gift from Australia

Australia has handed over a new Guardian-class patrol boat – HMTSS Te Mataili III – to Prime Minister of Tuvalu Feleti Teo at a ceremony at Fleet Base West in Western Australia.

CAPTION: Ship’s company of HMTSS Te Matailii III man the upper decks as the national flag of Tuvalu is raised for the first time during the patrol boat handover ceremony at Fleet Base West in Western Australia. Photo by Able Seaman Connor Morrison.

The delivery of the vessel follows the elevation of the security partnership between Australia and Tuvalu under the recently enacted Falepili Union*.

The vessel will strengthen Tuvalu’s capability to protect its critical maritime resources.

HMTSS Te Mataili III is the 21st vessel delivered under the Pacific Maritime Security Program – Australia’s 30-year commitment of uninterrupted engagement with our Pacific partners.

Minister for Defence Industry and Capability DevelopmentPat Conroy said the delivery of HMTSS Te MatailiIII to Tuvalu demonstrated Australia’s commitment to enhancing the capabilities of our Pacific partners.

“This vessel will strengthen Tuvalu’s maritime capability as we work towards our shared vision of a peaceful, prosperous and resilient Pacific.”

Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh said it was an honour to hand over HMTSS Te Mataili III to Tuvalu.

“Australia is proud to be Tuvalu’s primary security partner and we greatly value the enhanced partnership between our nations.”

.

.

.

*The Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty was signed on 9 November 2023 and entered into force on 28 August 2024.

As part of the Falepili Union treaty, Australia:

• has recognised for the first time in a legally binding treaty, Tuvalu’s continuing statehood and sovereignty, notwithstanding the impact of climate-change related sea-level rise
• has committed to assist Tuvalu in response to a major natural disaster, health pandemic or military aggression
• will create a special visa pathway to support mobility with dignity, which will enable citizens of Tuvalu to come to Australia to live, work and study.

There are also obligations under the Treaty to ensure Australian interests are protected and to facilitate the smooth operation of the migration pathway and increased security cooperation:

• Tuvalu is obliged to ensure its immigration, passport, citizenship and border controls are robust and meet international standards for integrity and security
• Tuvalu will mutually agree with Australia any partnership, arrangement or engagement with any other State or entity on security and defence-related matters in Tuvalu.

Australia and Tuvalu are co-designing the special mobility pathway and are working towards having the mobility pathway operational by mid-2025.
Australia and Tuvalu released an explanatory memorandum to the Australia‑Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty outlining joint understandings between the Governments of Australia and Tuvalu on the implementation and interpretation of the treaty.

.

.


.


.