HomeCountries & Areas…Vanuatu hide Vanuatu Subscribe View Fact Sheet Embassies & Consulates Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs International Travel Information What you need to know before you go: visas, Embassy & Consulate locations, vaccinations, etc. International Travel Information: Learn More Current Travel Advisories Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions Learn More U.S. Relationship These are excerpts from the U.S. Relations With Vanuatu U.S.-Vanuatu Relations U.S. Assistance to Vanuatu Bilateral Economic Relations U.S.-Vanuatu Relations The U.S. and Vanuatu established diplomatic relations in 1986, six years after Vanuatu’s independence from France and the United Kingdom. The U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea is also accredited to Vanuatu. U.S. representation is handled by the U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea. Peace Corps maintains a country office in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The U.S. and Vanuatu share a The U.S. and Vanuatu established diplomatic relations in 1986, six years after Vanuatu’s independence from France and the United Kingdom. The U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea is also accredited to Vanuatu. U.S. representation is handled by the U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea. Peace Corps maintains a country office in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The U.S. and Vanuatu share a commitment to strengthening democracy, enhancing security, and promoting development. In 2016, the U.S. and Vanuatu signed an historic law enforcement accord that includes a ship rider agreement, providing our two countries a critical mechanism for cooperation on the reduction of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the enhancement of maritime law enforcement. U.S. military ships regularly call on ports in Vanuatu to engage in training and exchanges with the Vanuatu Police Force. Collapse U.S.-Vanuatu Relations Read more about U.S.-Vanuatu Relations U.S. Assistance to Vanuatu The Vanuatu Government’s main concern has been to bolster the economy, which is primarily agricultural. The U.S. is a major financial contributor to international and regional organizations that assist Vanuatu, including the World Bank, UN Children’s Fund, World Health Organization, UN Fund for Population Activities, and Asian Development Bank (ADB). Peace Corps volunteers are assisting communities and government departments in The Vanuatu Government’s main concern has been to bolster the economy, which is primarily agricultural. The U.S. is a major financial contributor to international and regional organizations that assist Vanuatu, including the World Bank, UN Children’s Fund, World Health Organization, UN Fund for Population Activities, and Asian Development Bank (ADB). Peace Corps volunteers are assisting communities and government departments in Vanuatu in the areas of health, technology, and education. Peace Corps and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are cooperatively administering a small-grants project to assist communities in adapting to climate change. Vanuatu was the recipient of a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) $65 million compact which constructed two critical roads on the country’s most populous islands. This project has had a positive impact across a range of economic and social indicators from entrepreneurship to health to women’s empowerment. Collapse U.S. Assistance to Vanuatu Read more about U.S. Assistance to Vanuatu Bilateral Economic Relations U.S. trade with Vanuatu is somewhat limited. Vanuatu is a party to the U.S.-Pacific Islands Multilateral Tuna Fisheries Treaty, which provides access for U.S. fishing vessels in exchange for a license fee from the U.S. industry. Under a separate Economic Assistance Agreement associated with the Treaty, the U.S. government currently provides $21 million per year to Pacific Island parties. According U.S. trade with Vanuatu is somewhat limited. Vanuatu is a party to the U.S.-Pacific Islands Multilateral Tuna Fisheries Treaty, which provides access for U.S. fishing vessels in exchange for a license fee from the U.S. industry. Under a separate Economic Assistance Agreement associated with the Treaty, the U.S. government currently provides $21 million per year to Pacific Island parties. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, in 2016 the U.S. exported $7.9 million worth of goods to Vanuatu and imported $5.6 million worth. Collapse Bilateral Economic Relations Read more about Bilateral Economic Relations Integrated Country Strategies The Integrated Country Strategy is the four-year strategy articulating U.S. priorities in a given country. The Chief of Mission leads the strategy. View Integrated Country Strategies Discover More 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report View all Department Reports and Publications Highlights October 11, 2023 Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Allen Travels to Fiji, Vanuatu, Australia, and Chile September 29, 2023 Digital Press Briefing with Daniel J. Kritenbrink, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Dr. Mira Rapp-Hooper, Special Assistant to the President and NSC Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania July 31, 2023 Republic of Vanuatu National Day May 22, 2023 U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Dialogue in Papua New Guinea March 31, 2023 Intent to Open U.S. Embassy Port Vila, Republic of Vanuatu VIEW ALL NEWS Tags Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Vanuatu