Australia has signed a $190 million security deal with the Solomon Islands to boost the size and capacity of the Pacific nation's police force.The money will go towards training and infrastructure, which includes an officer training centre in the capital Honiara.Australia has been working to improve its relationship with the Solomon Islands, which is less than 2000km from Queensland, after the nation struck a deal with China in 2022.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese answer questions after announcing a security deal with the Solomon Islands. (Nine)The Solomons' agreement with Beijing will continue despite the new deal with Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the funding came after months of discussion."The support responds to Solomon Islands' strong desire to build an enduring sovereign security capability, thereby reducing its reliance on external partners over time," Albanese said."Solomon Islands and Australia are family with connected futures: we share a region, an ocean and a history of partnership. Our longstanding cooperation supports Solomon Islands' security, economic growth and development priorities."The 20 most dangerous hobbies of 2024View GalleryAlbanese said the move was designed to address the "alienation" that Pacific nations might feel from Australia's previous climate and foreign policies."I started discussions with Prime Minister (Jeremiah) Manele during his first overseas visit as prime minister where he came to Australia," he said."And my government is proud to make a significant investment in the police force of the Solomon Islands to ensure that they can continue to take primary responsibility for security in the Solomons."Albanese said the deal is designed to ensure Australia remains the Solomon Islands' closest Pacific ally."We have agreements with the Solomon Islands, and part of that is making sure that Australia remains the security partner of choice," he said.The deal comes just over a week after Australia signed a $600 million deal with Papua New Guinea to establish a new NRL team there, but only if the Pacific nation doesn't ink a new security or policing arrangement with Beijing.
