Australia to boost Solomons police under security pact

Canberra: Australia is stepping up its support for the Solomon Islands’ police force. They’re looking to counter the growing influence of China in the Pacific.

To do this, Australia is putting $190 million on the table over the next four years. The Solomon Islands asked for help to double their police force to around 3,000 officers.

Interestingly, Australia isn’t tying this funding to any deal about kicking out Chinese police, unlike what they did with Papua New Guinea. That deal made sure China couldn’t strike a security agreement with them.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mentioned that the Solomon Islands is a sovereign nation. He expects them to keep their own measures in place while Australia remains a trusted security partner.

The funding will also go towards more training and setting up a new police training center in Honiara. Albanese emphasized that this is all about boosting the police’s ability to provide security, which should lessen the need for outside help.

There was a bit of drama recently with a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, but it was withdrawn. This pushed back the announcement about the policing support.

After a visit to Canberra, Manele said he understood Australia’s concerns and would discuss them with his cabinet.

It’s worth noting that Manele’s predecessor had signed a security pact with China, which raised eyebrows in Australia.

Australia believes that security in the Pacific should be managed by regional countries and has no plans for a Chinese police presence.

Earlier this month, a police training hub opened in Brisbane. This will serve as a base for Pacific police deployments when countries need help during major events or crises.

Since July, over 200 officers have trained at the nearby center. This is part of a broader Pacific Policing Initiative, which was designed by 11 Pacific Island police chiefs and is backed by $400 million in Australian funding.