![eSR-73_Motor_Test_Drone_Approved_076-21OpEdMain](https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/eSR-73_Motor_Test_Drone_Approved_076-21OpEdMain-350x176.jpg)
Search results for: Solomon islands
![‘Technocrat’ Manele takes reins as Solomon Islands PM, China tilt remains](https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/240503_solomon_manele_GettyImages-1430165553-scaled-e1714742457244-225x150.jpg)
Still, Jeremiah Manele signaled he may take a more balanced approach to the East-West power struggle, recently saying it’s “important to treat every and all of our partners as equals.”
By Colin Clark![US, Papua New Guinea boost defense ties in wake of Solomon Islands deal with China](https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/12/Coast-Guard-Cutter-Oliver-Henry-Guam-e1686577071992-225x150.jpg)
A Coast Guard spokeswoman noted that being turned away from the Solomons “allowed for increased partnership with Papua New Guinea, supporting strategic objectives and strengthening regional relationships.”
By Colin Clark![Red line or no, secrecy over China-Solomon Islands pact piques US suspicion](https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/04/220426_solomon_islands_pm_china_GettyImages-1174667646-scaled-e1650991506663-225x150.jpg)
Stopping short of saying “red line,” a senior State Department official said a US delegation warned the Solomon Islands about a US response should China attempt to have a “de facto” military presence there.
By Colin Clark![China says Solomon Islands security pact signed; critics knock Morrison government](https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/04/220419_china_xi_solomons_GettyImages-1174667650-scaled-e1650381052506-225x150.jpg)
Morrison’s “government has really dropped the ball on this,” Peter Dean at the University of Western Australia said. “Why had the warnings last year not been taken more seriously?”
By Colin Clark![Australia, US grapple with Solomon Islands tilt to China](https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/04/220414_aus_defense_solomon_20211215army8615249_0102-scaled-e1650035381176-225x150.jpg)
The White House announced that Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of State for east Asian and Pacific affairs, and Kurt Campbell, the National Security Council’s Indo-Pacific Coordinator, will lead an interagency delegation to the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
By Colin Clark![US touts $810M for Pacific islands to help fend off China, some for Solomons](https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/09/220929_blinken_pacific_summit_GettyImages-1243575559-scaled-e1664456366741-225x150.jpg)
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken made a bold promise to the Pacific island leaders: “You can count on the United States partnering with you.”
By Colin Clark![New data shows US topped China ‘Belt and Road’ spending in Pacific Islands by 2021](https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/07/230721_china_solomon_GettyImages-1517817161-scaled-e1689946587637-225x150.jpg)
Beijing and Washington have been in a tug of war over political influence for the 14 Pacific Island nations.
By Colin Clark![US, Aussies funding Google undersea internet cables for Pacific Islands, with geostrategic implications](https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/Google-cable-investment-map-225x150.jpeg)
The investment by Australia and the United States into funding the new Google internet cables means the Pacific islands can avoid becoming integral parts of China’s global data collection.
By Colin Clark![First ever visit to Papua New Guinea by a US SecDef announced, as Pacific Islands import grows](https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/07/papua-new-guine-scaled-e1689858047271-225x150.jpg)
The announcement of Austin’s visit to Papua New Guinea came in the wake of more signs that that neighboring Solomon Islands continues to move towards China as its key partner.
By Colin Clark![Solomons slap ‘moratorium’ on naval vessel visits; PM says USCG ship was OKd for entry, but…](https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/08/220830_mercy_pacific_islands_220718-N-HI500-1173Y-scaled-e1661861731471-225x150.jpg)
Prime Minister Sogavare’s government claims that the “Solomon Islands have had unfortunate experiences of foreign naval vessels entering the country’s waters during the course of the year without diplomatic clearance granted, hence would like to avoid such incidents from reoccurring.”
By Colin Clark![With Harris’s surprise talk, US says it’s ‘stepping up’ in Pacific Islands](https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/07/220714_harris_islands_video_GettyImages-1241865541-scaled-e1657805912659-225x150.jpg)
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese engaged in a very public and winning hug with Solomon Islands leader Manasseh Sogavere, who repeated his pledge that there would not be any Chinese military bases in his country.
By Colin Clark![China’s newest military base abroad is up and running, and there are more on the horizon](https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/GettyImages-1157672597-scaled-e1720550423281-225x150.jpg)
US officials have tracked China’s engagement with dozens of countries in recent years to determine where the PLA’s next overseas base will appear.
By Christopher Woody![With Australia, New Zealand to explore AUKUS ‘opportunities,’ closer to joining?](https://breakingdefense.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/000142171-scaled-e1706793090787-225x150.jpeg)
“The opportunities that are open to our space and technology sectors are actually immense,” New Zealand’s Defence Minister Judith Collins said.
By Colin Clark