Australia Pledges to Help Solomons Develop Security Force

Published on May 21, 2024

The Australian government is hoping to continue building ties with the Solomon Islands government, pledging $50 million (US33.35 million) to establish a new border management system and improve health infrastructure. The move is part of the government’s effort to strengthen its ties with the new Solomons government amid security concerns stemming from Beijing’s influence in the region. The funding announcement was made during Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles’s visit to the Solomon Islands’ capital city Honiara to meet the country’s newly elected prime minister, Jeremiah Manele, for the first time. On May 21, the defence minister’s package included $3 million to help digitise the Solomon Island border management from 2025, making it easier to collect revenue, track who is entering and leaving the country, and introduce new visa classes....

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