Australia nears treaty with Solomon Islands in bid to limit China’s influence
Australia is in the process of finalising a treaty with another Pacific island nation, with the national broadcaster reporting that Canberra has struck an “in-principle” agreement with the Solomon Islands. The two nations will work to sign the deal in the coming weeks, Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported, citing unidentified government officials. The news comes after Solomons Prime…
Australia is nearing a treaty with the Solomon Islands to curb China's influence in the Pacific region, the national broadcaster has reported. The two nations are set to sign the deal in the coming weeks, after an "in-principle" agreement was struck between Canberra and Solomon Islands, according to unidentified government officials.
The agreement follows Prime Minister Matthew Wale overcoming a cabinet challenge and Australia committing A$980 million (US$708 million) in extra funding for the Solomon Islands' government. The deal would be a significant diplomatic victory for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government, which has sought to reverse the 2022 security pact between Solomon Islands and China.
This move comes after a series of diplomatic initiatives by Albanese's government, including renewed focus on Australia and the US, and the signing of a military alliance with Fiji. The Solomon Islands' shift in focus to Australia and the US follows its previous tilt towards Beijing. The broader context includes Australia's strengthening security ties with Japan and Japan's concern over the growing US-China strategic competition.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
