The new Prime Minister of Solomon Islands has agreed to kickstart negotiations on a new treaty with Australia during a visit to Canberra this week. Matthew Wale also promised to review a contentious security treaty that the Pacific nation signed with China more than four years ago, in what observers see as a clear sign he might be willing to pivot away from Beijing.
His arrival was marked by a grand welcome designed to impress. Canberra rolled out the red carpet for the visiting leader, complete with a ceremonial reception. Wale said the occasion was very moving, adding that the cannons firing that morning had made an impression on him.
Wale took the top job just a few weeks ago, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spotted an opportunity to recast a sometimes troubled relationship. Albanese said the partnership would be set out in a new comprehensive treaty underpinned by mutual trust, respect and open dialogue.
The shift carries weight because of recent history in the region. China scored a major win in 2022 when it signed a security pact with Solomon Islands, and its police training teams are now bedded down in the country. That agreement reshaped the strategic picture in the Pacific.
Wale had previously lashed the agreement with China, but he is now recalibrating and weighing up his next move. He said he had been praying and fasting about the decision, while stressing that his cabinet would need to examine the matter before any change was made.
Even publishing the contentious document might not be straightforward. Wale explained that there is a non-disclosure clause in the pact, which meant he could not show it to reporters right away despite his stated intention to bring it into the open.
The Prime Minister went further, admitting he had to fight his own bureaucrats simply to get his hands on a copy of the agreement. He said his government would be reviewing the China pact in the same way it is reviewing other security agreements it has entered into.