Russia–Vanuatu relations

Last updated
Russo-Vanuatuan relations
Russia Vanuatu Locator.png
Flag of Russia.svg
Russia
Flag of Vanuatu.svg
Vanuatu

The Republic of Vanuatu and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics established official diplomatic relations on June 30, 1986 - three months to the day before Vanuatu established diplomatic relations with the United States. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Russian Federation emerged as its successor state in 1991.

Currently Russia's ambassador to Vanuatu is Aleksey Pavlovsky  [ ru ] (who is also Russia's ambassador to Australia, and Russia's other non-resident embassies in Canberra such as Fiji, Nauru, and Tonga).[ citation needed ] In December 2011, Vanuatu appointed Thitam Goiset, "president" of the Nagriamel and John Frum movements and sister of "prominent businessman" Dinh Van Than, as ambassador to Russia. [1]

Historical Relations

Vanuatu, which became independent from France and the United Kingdom in 1980, was led by Prime Minister Father Walter Lini, founder of the doctrine of Melanesian socialism, from 1980 to 1991. Lini's foreign policy was one of non-alignment, manifested by Vanuatu joining the Non-Aligned Movement in 1983. His government was the only one in Oceania at the time which refused to align with the Western bloc during the dying stages of the Cold War. Lini sought to maintain cordial, though not particularly close, relations with the Soviet Union. There was never any suggestion of Vanuatu aligning with the Eastern bloc; Lini was not a Marxist, and there was no Communist Party in Vanuatu.

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.

The year 1991 was marked both by the end of Lini's last term in office and by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Thereafter, relations between Port-Vila and Moscow were virtually non-existent.

In 2011, however, Vanuatu (under Prime Minister Sato Kilman) did follow Russia's lead in recognising the breakaway Georgian province of Abkhazia as a sovereign state. Foreign Affairs Minister Alfred Carlot "offered little explanation for the decision [but] did give hints. He said he had studied at Moscow’s diplomatic academy during Soviet days, and that Vanuatu’s foreign policy aims at “eradicating colonialism from the face of the earth.”" [2]

In 2021, French diplomat Bernard Leclerc was appointed the Special Envoy to the Russian Federation for the Republic of Vanuatu.

Related Research Articles

Foreign relations of Vanuatu

Vanuatu maintains diplomatic relations with many countries, and it has a small network of diplomatic missions. Australia, France, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom maintain embassies, High Commissions, or missions in Port Vila. The British High Commission maintained a continued presence for almost a century, though closed from 2005 until reopening in 2019.

Foreign relations of Abkhazia

The Republic of Abkhazia (Abkhazia) is a self-proclaimed state that declared soon after a catastrophic war as residual effect of Soviet Union dissolution in early 1990s, well known as Abkhazian War 1992–1993 between Abkhazian and Georgian. As the new born countries, Abkhazia struggle to gain international community recognition, but no one countries has been recognizing Abkhazia as an independent state after this war. Firstly, Transnistria recognizing each other with Abkhazia on 22 January 1993. This is the first step to Abkhazia for looking forward recognition. After a decades, on 20 September 2005, the second countries was recognizing each other with Abkhazia is South Ossetia. Third, Nagorno-Karabakh also follows two other countries to recognizing Abkhazia on 14 November 2006.

United States–Vanuatu relations Bilateral relations

The United States and Vanuatu established diplomatic relations on September 30, 1986 - three months to the day after Vanuatu had established diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union. Relations were often tense in the 1980s, under the prime ministership of Father Walter Lini in Vanuatu, but eased after that. At present, bilateral relations consist primarily in US aid to Vanuatu, and are cordial.

Russia–Singapore relations Bilateral relations

Russia–Singapore relations refers to the bilateral foreign relations between the two countries, Russia and Singapore. Russia has an embassy in Singapore. Singapore has an embassy in Moscow. Both countries are full members of APEC. Relations between the 2 countries have been described as "excellent", with Russia and Singapore sharing many common interests and enjoying close collaborations on many levels.

Embassy of Australia, Moscow

The Embassy of Australia in Moscow is the diplomatic mission of Australia to the Russian Federation. The current head of post and Ambassador of Australia to the Russian Federation is Graeme Meehan. The embassy serves as the diplomatic mission for Australia to the Russian Federation, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The chancery is located at 10A/2 Podkolokolny Lane in the Tagansky District of Moscow.

Abkhazia–Russia relations Bilateral relations

Abkhazia–Russia relations is the bilateral relationship between the Republic of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation. Russia recognised Abkhazia on 26 August 2008, following the August 2008 South Ossetia war. Abkhazia and Russia established diplomatic relations on 9 September 2008.

Russia–Trinidad and Tobago relations Bilateral relations

Russia–Trinidad and Tobago relations are the bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and Trinidad and Tobago. Diplomatic relations were established on June 6, 1974. Russia is represented in Trinidad and Tobago through a non-resident embassy in Georgetown, Guyana.

Cuba–Vanuatu relations Bilateral relations

Relations between Vanuatu and Cuba began shortly after the former gained its independence from France and the United Kingdom in 1980, and began establishing its own foreign policy as a newly independent state. Vanuatu and Cuba established official diplomatic relations in 1983.

Soviet Union–Vanuatu relations Bilateral relations

The Republic of Vanuatu and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics established official diplomatic relations on 30 June 1986 - three months to the day before Vanuatu established diplomatic relations with the United States.

Soviet Union–Tonga relations Bilateral relations

Tonga and the Soviet Union established formal diplomatic relations in 1976. Tonga was the first Pacific Island country to establish relations with the USSR.

Libya–Vanuatu relations Bilateral relations

Libya–Vanuatu relations refer to foreign relations between Vanuatu and Libya. They established official diplomatic relations in 1986, at the initiative of the former. The aim, for Vanuatu, was twofold: first, to obtain access to favourable economic relations with a major oil-producing country, and second, to strengthen its policy of non-alignment by establishing relations with a notable country not aligned with the Western Bloc. 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. Time magazine described Libya's reasons for establishing relations with Vanuatu as "unclear", suggesting that it might simply wish to "irritate the U.S. and France". Vanuatu's relations with both France and the United States were strained at the time.

France–Vanuatu relations Bilateral relations

The French Republic and the Republic of Vanuatu have long-standing bilateral relations which have varied over the years between tense and amicable. Vanuatu, then known as the New Hebrides, was a Franco-British condominium from 1906 to 1980, and maintained formal relations with both of its former colonial masters after gaining independence. Franco–Vanuatuan relations were rocked by a series of crises in the 1980s, and broke down completely on several occasions, with Vanuatu expelling the French ambassador in 1981, in 1984 and in 1987. Relations improved from the 1990s onwards and, today, France provides development aid to Vanuatu. The two countries also share amicable economic and cultural relations; both are members of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

Vanuatu and the United Nations

The Republic of Vanuatu has been a member of the United Nations since the year of its independence in 1980. The country was a particularly active member in the 1980s, when, governed by Prime Minister Father Walter Lini and represented by Ambassador Robert Van Lierop, it was a consistent advocate for decolonisation. Subsequently, its emphasis within the United Nations shifted to the issue of climate change and the vulnerability of Small Island Developing States.

Russia–Tonga relations Bilateral relations

The Kingdom of Tonga and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics established formal diplomatic relations in 1976. Tonga was the first Pacific Island country to establish relations with the USSR. The USSR was dissolved in 1991 and was succeeded by the Russian Federation as the successor state.

Igor Akhba

Igor Muratovich Akhba, is the current ambassador of the Republic of Abkhazia to the Russian Federation, and a one time Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Abkhazia–Vanuatu relations Bilateral relations

Bilateral relations between Abkhazia and Vanuatu were begun when Vanuatu recognised Abkhazia's independence on 23 May 2011. On that day a joint statement on establishment of diplomatic relations was signed. However, the exact nature of the recognition was a matter of dispute and was not regularized until July 2013.

Lesotho–Russia relations Bilateral relations

Lesotho–Russia relations are the bilateral relations between Russia and Lesotho.

India–Vanuatu relations Bilateral relations

India–Vanuatu relations are bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Vanuatu. The Indian High Commission in Suva, Fiji is jointly accredited to Vanuatu. Formal relations between the two countries began in 1986, after then prime minister Walter Lini joined the Non-Aligned Movement in 1983.

References

  1. "Vanuatu appoints ambassador to Russia", Radio New Zealand International, 5 December 2011
  2. "Yes, No, Yes. Vanuatu Clarifies Position on Abkhazia", New York Times, June 9, 2011