SYDNEY (Reuters) By Dr. Majid Khan – Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manase Sogavare said at a meeting that the country needed to reassess its security pact with Australia. The move comes amid growing strategic competition between China, the United States and their respective allies in the region.
During a meeting with Australian Defence Minister Richard Marls, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manase Sogavare called for a comprehensive review of the existing security treaty with Australia. The deployment comes at a time of growing Chinese influence in the region and growing concerns over strategic competition between China, the United States and their allies.
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marls visited the Solomon Islands for two days for security consultations. These talks are gaining momentum as China assumes a larger role in the Pacific nation’s police force. Prime Minister Sogavare also announced his intention to visit China sometime next week in parliament on Monday.
Marls described the meeting as “productive” and tweeted a deepening partnership between the two countries. He highlighted regional security, infrastructure development, labor mobility and healthcare as priorities.
Marls also met with members of the Solomon Islands International Assistance Force (SIAF), including police officers from Australia, Fiji and New Zealand. The SIAF will be deployed in 2021 at the request of Prime Minister Sogavare to quell anti-government riots. Australia has long been a major aid donor and has strong security ties with the Solomon Islands. A security treaty signed between the two countries in 2017 allows for the rapid deployment of Australian police and defense forces to the Solomon Islands if the two sides agree and the need arises.
Increased Chinese infrastructure funding and a security deal signed last year with the Solomon Islands have raised concerns in Canberra and Washington about China’s naval ambitions in strategically important areas. In particular, in recent months, the Chinese police have played a more important role in training and equipping the Royal Solomon Islands Police.
During the meeting with Minister Marls, the Sogavare Prime Minister’s Office thanked Australia for its continued security support. A statement issued by the secretariat emphasized the need to review the current security treaty in light of evolving security challenges facing both countries.
The Solomon Islands will host the China-hosted Pacific Games in Honiara in November. China is building seven stadiums and other venues for sporting events in the region, and Chinese police have pledged to provide continued support to the Solomon Islands police during and after the Games.
The statement also said an evaluation is currently underway to determine the game’s security requirements. If a particular area requires attention, Australia will be notified through the appropriate channels to ensure continued cooperation and coordination between the two countries. Preparations for the prime minister’s visit to China are in the final stages, according to Sogavare’s office. This visit aims to act as a platform for further consultations and contacts between the Solomon Islands and China.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manase Sogavare highlighted the changing security situation in the region and called for a thorough review of the security treaty with Australia. As China expands its influence in the Pacific, concerns over strategic competition are prompting a review of existing agreements.
