Foreign relations of Solomon Islands

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 July 2016.[2][3][4]

Relations with Australia were, until recently, strained, with prime minister Manasseh Sogavare, accusing Australia of "heavy-handed" interference in Solomon Islands' domestic affairs, subsequently expelling Australia's high commissioner Patrick Cole. In a nationally televised address, Sogavare claimed that the Australian-led security forces in Solomon Islands had not dealt properly with the country's underlying problems.[5]

"We are concerned that Canberra's policies are aimed at excluding and containing the peoples of the region, instead of working collectively to address fundamental problems of social instability that can only be solved through dialogue, rather than the use of development aid, and political force as leverage, to dictate Australia's involvement"

Sogavare also claimed that Australia's involvement in the region could be "driving this country down the path of another conflict that could be more serious" than the April 2006 riots that broke out after an election won by the former deputy prime minister Snyder Rini, when thousands of anti-government protesters burned down buildings in Solomon Islands' capital Honiara's Chinese district, alleging that either the People's Republic of China or the Republic of China had paid lawmakers to vote for Rini.[6]

Sogavare's successor, prime minister Derek Sikua, almost immediately set out to mend relations with Australia upon assuming office in December 2007.[7]

Both countries established diplomatic relations in October 2005.[8]

In February 2011, Azerbaijan and the Solomon Islands signed a mutual understanding, cooperation, and to strengthen the friendly relations which established diplomatic relations between the two nations.

• Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 November 2010.[9]
• Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

• Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 July 1978.[10]
• Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

In the late 2000s, Solomon Islands began to strengthen their relations with Cuba.

In April 2007, the Solomon Star reported that Solomon Islands' high commissioner to the United Nations was soon to be sworn in as ambassador to Cuba.[13] In September 2007, it was announced that 40 Cuban doctors would be sent to the Solomon Islands.[14] The Solomons’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Patterson Oti said that Solomon Islander doctors would "learn from their Cuban colleagues in specialised areas".[15] In addition to providing doctors, Cuba provided scholarships for 50 Solomon Islanders to study medicine in Cuba for free.[16]

In September 2008, Solomon Islands' foreign minister William Haomae attended the first Cuba-Pacific Islands ministerial meeting in Havana, aimed at "strengthening cooperation", notably in coping with the impact of climate change.[17]

In July 2014, Solomon Islands prime minister Gordon Darcy Lilo opened the Solomon Islands embassy in Havana, thus becoming the first Pacific Island country to have an embassy and resident ambassador in Cuba.[18]

• Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 May 2010.[19]
• Cyprus is represented in the Solomon Islands via parallel accreditation of its embassy in Canberra, Australia.[20]
• Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations.

In August 2008, it was announced that Solomon Islands intended to open a High Commission in Suva,[21] and in December the government of Fiji announced that it had "formally endorsed the establishment of a Resident Diplomatic Mission in Suva by the Government of the Solomon Islands".[22] Fiji's High Commission to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Solomon Islands.

Relations between both countries are very limited.[23]

Both countries established diplomatic relations in March 2011.[24][25]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 July 1978.[26]

• Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1987.[27]
• Greece is represented in the Solomon Islands via parallel accreditation of its embassy in Canberra, Australia.[27]

• Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 November 1996.[28]
• Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Diplomatic relations between India and the Solomon Islands were established in May 1987.

Both countries established diplomatic relations in January 1989.[29]

Diplomatic relations between Japan and Solomon Islands were established on 7 July 1978, the date the Solomon Islands became independent. Japan maintains an embassy at Honiara.[30]

Both countries established diplomatic relations in December 2014.[31]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 June 2012.[32]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 September 2012.[33]

Malaysia has an honorary consul in Solomon Islands while Malaysia high commission in Port Moresby also accredited to the country,[34] and Solomon Islands has a high commission in Kuala Lumpur.[35][36][37]

• Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 October 1989.[38]
• Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 May 1990.[39]

• Mexico is accredited to the Solomon Islands from its embassy in Canberra, Australia.
• Solomon Islands does not have an accreditation to Mexico.

The Federated States of Micronesia and the Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations on 5 April 1990.[40]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 October 2011.[41]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 December 2010.[42]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 December 2011.[43]

• The Netherlands are represented in the Solomon Islands by its embassy in Canberra, Australia.[44]
• The Solomon Islands are represented in the Netherlands by its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.[45][46]

Solomon Islands and Pakistan established foreign relations in February 2016, when high commissioner designate Naela Chohan, Pakistan's ambassador resident in Canberra, arrived in Honiara to sign an accord with minister for foreign affairs Milner Tozaka for the formal establishment of diplomatic ties.[47] A Joint Communique issued by the two senior officials remarked upon numerous areas of cooperation, including education, and policing, as well as bilateral trade ties[48]

Relations with Papua New Guinea, which had become strained because of an influx of refugees from the Bougainville rebellion and attacks on the northern islands of Solomon Islands by elements pursuing Bougainvillean rebels, have been repaired. A peace accord on Bougainville confirmed in 1998 has removed the armed threat, but refugee return has been slow.

Relations between the current governments of prime minister Derek Sikua (Solomon Islands) and prime minister Michael Somare (Papua New Guinea) are, at present, cordial.[49]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 March 2012.[50]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 February 2011.[51]

• Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 May 2011.[52][53]
• Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Both countries established diplomatic relations in July 2014.[54]

Both countries have established diplomatic relations on 13 September 2012.[55]

• Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 April 1987.[56]
• Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

• Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 December 1996.[57]
• Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

South Korea and the Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations on the 15 September 1978.[58]

• Both countries established diplomatic relations in July 2013.[59]
• Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Solomon Islands and Switzerland established formal diplomatic relations on 20 December 2007, when representatives of both nations signed a joint communiqué in Canberra.[60] Beraki Jino, High Commissioner of Solomon Islands to Australia, and Christian Muhlethaler, Ambassador of Switzerland to Australia, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments.[60]

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 2014.[61]

• Turkish ambassador in Canberra to Australia is also accredited to Solomon Islands.[62]
• Trade volume between the two countries was negligible in 2019.[62]

Ukraine is represented in the Solomon Islands by its embassy in Canberra, Australia.[63]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 April 2010.[64]

Queen Elizabeth II is, severally, the head of state of both the United Kingdom and Solomon Islands. Although the two offices are vested in the same person, she exercises her role as Queen of Solomon Islands independently of her role as the Queen of the United Kingdom, consequently, the United Kingdom itself has no jurisdiction in Solomon Islands.[65] Both the United Kingdom and Solomon Islands are members of the Commonwealth of Nations, and participate in events such as the Commonwealth Games.

Bilateral relations with the UK remain strong. The UK's bilateral aid programme in Solomon Islands ended in early 2004 when the UK's regional aid programme came to a close. However, UK funding through the EU, the largest multilateral donor to Solomon Islands, will continue. The UK contributes almost 15% of the EU development budget in Solomon Islands. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office assistance to Solomon Islands is focused on security sector reform, good governance, sustainable development and poverty alleviation. Among the activities supported in the last two years are: education on HIV/AIDS, rural clinics, collective farming and empowerment of women. Sir Nathaniel Waena, the Governor-General of Solomon Islands, visited the UK in 2006 to celebrate the Queen's 80th Birthday. Assistance is also provided through the Commonwealth of Nations, whose budget is supported by the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom is one of only six countries to maintain a resident ambassador in Honiara, the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Solomon Islands.[66] The current High Commissioner, since 2016, is David Ward.[67] The British High Commission in Honiara represents British interests in the country and assists British citizens resident in, or visiting the country. The High Commission also funds local projects and assists in scholarships in the United Kingdom for Solomon Islands citizens.

Solomon Islands is represented in the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, by the Solomon Islands Ambassador, who is also accredited as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

• Solomon Islands are accredited to the United States from its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City.
• United States is accredited to the Solomon Islands from its embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

In October 2008, Solomon Islands prime minister Derek Sikua moved to establish economic relations with Venezuela, hoping to benefit from comparatively cheap Venezuelan oil. In a rare display of bipartisanship, Solomons Opposition leader Manasseh Sogavare praised his political rival for this move, stating that -in the context of the financial crisis of 2007–2008, it would bring down the price of oil for Solomon Islanders, and boost the economy if the Solomons imported crude Venezuelan oil, refined it and then exported it to neighbouring countries.[68]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 October 1996.[69][70]