Feleti Teo, the former Attorney General of Tuvalu, was appointed as the prime minister of the small South Pacific nation on Monday following the recent elections that removed 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 the need for a vote, according to a statement from government secretary Tufoua Panapa.
The swearing-in ceremony for Teo and his Cabinet is scheduled to take place later this week.
The impact of the new government on China’s influence in the country, located between Australia and Hawaiʻi with a population of around 11,500, remains uncertain. However, experts do not anticipate any immediate changes in diplomatic recognition.
The previous prime minister, Kausea Natano, along with three of his eight ministers, did not win reelection in the January 26 election.
Natano had advocated for Tuvalu to maintain official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a stance that was challenged by his former finance minister, Seve Paeniu, who suggested reevaluating Tuvalu’s relationships with both Beijing and Taiwan.
In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning called on Tuvalu to switch diplomatic recognition to China.
The proposed security treaty between Tuvalu and Australia, announced in November last year, might be revised or canceled under the new government. The treaty includes provisions for Australia to assist Tuvalu in response to natural disasters, pandemics, and military threats.
Australia also offered a lifeline to Tuvaluans affected by climate change, allowing up to 280 individuals to migrate to Australia annually due to rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions in Tuvalu.
Former Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga opposed the security treaty, which would grant Australia veto power over Tuvalu’s security agreements with other nations, including China.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese referenced the treaty in his congratulatory message to Teo, highlighting the importance of the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union.
Before Teo’s appointment as prime minister, experts predicted a review of the treaty to align with the new government’s priorities.
George Carter from the Australian National University suggested that Teo’s administration is likely to maintain relations with Taiwan, at least in the short term, despite potential changes in the future.
The competition for influence in the South Pacific between the United States and China was evident in recent events, such as a U.S. Coast Guard patrol in Kiribati waters involving interactions with Chinese fishing boats.
