The trailblazing treaty between Australia and Tuvalu – the Falepili Union – has entered into force, on the sidelines of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga.

Anthony Albanese and Feleti Teo held a signing ceremony on Wednesday to mark the occasion, complete with Tuvaluan dancers

Albanese said they were “making history” with a “groundbreaking agreement”.

“We are genuinely looking out for each other’s interests with great respect for each other and a commitment to putting our people first,” he said.

The Falepili Union is a comprehensive pact between the region’s powerhouse and the tiny Polynesian state, which is the world’s lowest nation and severely threatened by climate change.

Australia will offer up to 280 visas to Tuvaluans each year to build lives in Australia, fund climate adaptation and development projects.

Australia also gives a security guarantee, and with it, effective sign-off on any defence or security related matters in Tuvalu.

Earlier at the PIF summit, Teo confirmed to AAP that the ceremony would take place.

“We will have a country that will be legally committed to come to the aid of Tuvalu when Tuvalu encounters a major national disaster or a major health pandemic, and also providing security guarantees,” he said.

“It’s a groundbreaking arrangement in terms of foreign relations.”

Albanese shocked the Pacific by announcing the treaty at the 2023 PIF summit in the Cook Islands.

The pact has been criticised by some as neo-colonisation, or blunting Tuvalu’s sovereignty.

Albanese counters those concerns by saying it was negotiated and signed at Tuvalu’s request.

“This is about the Pacific family looking after Pacific security,” he said, when asked if it was a deal to counter China’s interest.

“I have made it a personal priority for Australia to take a seat at the table at PIF engaging consistently and deliberately.

“Because being part of the conversation means that Australia gets to shape the solutions in our national interests and in the interests of our region.

“This is a clear illustration of the commitment that my government has to be a trusted partner in the Pacific.”

The migration pathway means that theoretically all Tuvaluans could have moved to Australia by mid-century – as the effects of climate change begin to challenge life for the 10,000-strong nation.

“I think most of the people in Tuvalu will stay,” Teo said.

“For Tuvaluans that do live in Australia, at least they have the opportunity to benefit from whatever the Australian system and government offer their permanent residents.”

Wednesday is Albanese’s first full day in Nuku’alofa, having skipped the opening days of the PIF summit.

Albanese arrives to crunch talks on the future of New Caledonia, which has quelled deadly unrest but remains at a political crossroads.

That challenging discussion is being saved for the retreat on Thursday, when leaders will fly north to the Tongan island of Vava’u for an all-day private hideaway.

At that meeting, Tuvalu will seek support from leaders for a clause in the summit communique which decries sea level rise.

“Sea level rise is the most severe manifestation of climate change, and we need to tackle that front on,” Teo said, saying he had Australia’s in-principle support.

“I’m hoping that during the during the retreat we’ll be able to persuade the other foreign leaders to support a strong statement coming out of Tonga specifically on sea level rise.”

-AAP