AUSTRALIA secured a “groundbreaking” pact with the Pacific archipelago of Tuvalu today, forging exclusive military ties — but an emigration clause underlined fears climate change spells doom for the low-lying islands.

At a meeting of Pacific leaders in the Cook Islands, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natano to announce the “Falepili Union,” which pledges Australia to provide military assistance to Tuvalu if asked, and requires Tuvalu to secure Australian agreement to any “security” arrangements made with any third country.

Mr Albanese was on his way home from a trip to China, seen as a bid to repair relations that had worsened under his neoconservative predecessor Scott Morrison.