On May 28, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele met in Canberra and agreed to begin negotiations on a comprehensive strategic treaty between the two countries. The agreement is seen as a key step to strengthen bilateral ties after several years of Solomon Islands bolstering cooperation with China.
The treaty is expected to cover security, trade, investment, and infrastructure development. The move comes as Australia seeks to regain influence in the Pacific region, where Beijing signed a security pact with Solomon Islands in 2022.
Speaking after the meeting, Prime Minister Albanese emphasized: “This treaty will lay a solid foundation for future cooperation between our two countries, based on mutual respect and shared interests.” Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manele said Solomon Islands aims to maintain a balanced relationship, cooperating with all partners, including Australia.
Negotiations are expected to take several months, with a goal of reaching an agreement by the end of this year.
