After months of negotiations, Australia and Vanuatu have signed a watered-down $500 million security deal.The Nakamal Agreement was signed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat in Canberra on Monday.The deal was inked almost 10 months after Napat pulled out of a signing ceremony due to concerns that Vanuatu's sovereignty would be undermined.Albanese said the agreement "reflects and confirms" Australia's role as Vanuatu's "largest and most comprehensive economic security and development partner, a responsibility that we take seriously"."This agreement advances a consensus that security is the shared responsibility of the Pacific family .. and encapsulates Vanuatu's sovereign decision not to permit its territory to be used for any foreign military base or infrastructure."Napat said it was a "significant step" in the nation's relationship."With the signing of the long-awaited Nakamal Agreement, Australia and Vanuatu are close neighbours, trusted partners," he said.The Nakamal Agreement cements Australia as the Pacific island nation's primary aid and policing partner.It's a bid to steer the nation away from China, which is currently pursuing a deal with Vanuatu, known as the Namele Agreement