Statement comes as Australian defence minister visits Solomon Islands for security talks amid concern over China’s influence in Pacific nation.
Ednews informs via Al Jazeera that the prime minister of the Solomon Islands has called for a review of his nation’s security treaty with Australia amid growing strategic competition in the Pacific region between China, the United States and its allies.
Manasseh Sogavare made the statement on Wednesday following a meeting with the Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles in Honiara, according to the prime minister’s office.
Marles is on a two-day visit to the Solomon Islands for security talks that come days ahead of a visit by Sogavare to China.
Australia is a significant aid donor and has a decades-long security relationship with the Solomon Islands.
Canberra deployed troops to the Solomon Islands in 2021 at Honiara’s request following anti-government protests, alongside defence personnel from Fiji and New Zealand.
The deployment was part of a 2017 security treaty between Australia and the Solomon Islands, which allows Australian police and defence personnel to deploy rapidly to the Solomon Islands if the need arises and both countries consent.
