Foreign relations of Solomon Islands

The foreign policy of the Solomon Islands as of 2008 was described by the Solomon Islands government as a "look north" policy, aimed as strengthening diplomatic and economic relations with Asian countries for development purposes.[1]

Diplomatic Representation

Countries with diplomatic missions in Solomon Islands are Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The U.S. ambassador resident in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea is also accredited to the Solomon Islands. Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Sweden and Malaysia have Honorary Consuls.

Solomon Islands has diplomatic missions in Canberra, Papua New Guinea, Taipei, at the United Nations in New York, where the ambassador there is also accredited as its ambassador to the United States of America, UNESCO in Paris and high commissioner to Canada and at the European Commission in Brussels where the representative is also accredited as High Commissioner to the UK.

Bilateral relations

Current

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Argentina29 July 2016

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

 AustraliaSee Australia–Solomon Islands relations

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]

 AustriaOctober 2005

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

 AzerbaijanFebruary 2011

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.

 Botswana17 November 2010
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 November 2010.[9]
  • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
 Canada7 July 1978
 China 21 September 2019 On 16 September 2019, the Solomon Islands parliament voted to end diplomatic recognition of Taiwan and to recognise China (PRC). Taiwan subsequently closed its embassy in Honiara on 17 September 2019. The new arrangement with PRC remained to be ratified on 19 September but is expected to proceed.[11] Following this move, a provincial leader had offered to lease the island of Tulagi to China in a deal that the attorney general found to be illegal.[12]
 CubaSee Cuba–Solomon Islands relations

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]

 Cyprus5 May 2010
  • 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.
 FijiSee Fiji–Solomon Islands relations

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.

 France

Relations between both countries are very limited.[23]

 GeorgiaMarch 2011

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

 Germany11 July 1978

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

 Greece1987
  • 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]
 Guyana26 November 1996
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 November 1996.[28]
  • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
 IndiaMay 1987See India–Solomon Islands relations

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

 IsraelJanuary 1989

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

 Japan7 July 1978

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]

 KyrgyzstanDecember 2014

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

 Latvia28 June 2012

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

 Lithuania20 September 2012

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

 MalaysiaSee Malaysia–Solomon Islands relations

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]

 Maldives18 October 1989
 Marshall Islands23 May 1990

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

 Mexico26 September 2008
  • Mexico is accredited to the Solomon Islands from its embassy in Canberra, Australia.
  • Solomon Islands does not have an accreditation to Mexico.
 Micronesia5 April 1990

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

 Mongolia13 October 2011

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

 Montenegro23 December 2010

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

   Nepal15 December 2011

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

 Netherlands
 Pakistan

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]

 Papua New Guinea

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]

 Poland6 March 2012

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

 Romania1 February 2011

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

 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines4 May 2011
 Saudi ArabiaJuly 2014

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

 Serbia13 September 2012

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

 Singapore21 April 1987
 South Africa11 December 1996
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 December 1996.[57]
  • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
 South Korea15 September 1978

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

 Sri Lanka
  Switzerland20 December 2007

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]

 Trinidad and Tobago2014

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 2014.[61]

 TurkeyMarch 8, 1979[62]See Solomon Islands–Turkey relations
 Ukraine

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

 United Arab Emirates29 April 2010

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

 United KingdomThe British Solomon Islands Protectorate was one of the last areas of the British Empire to gain independence. The official name was changed from British Solomon Islands Protectorate to Solomon Islands in 1975. Self-government was granted in 1976 also under that name. On achieving full independence as a sovereign state in 1978, the two countries immediately established diplomatic relations.

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.

 United States7 July 1978See Solomon Islands–United States relations
  • 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.
 Venezuela

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]

 Vietnam30 October 1996

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

Former bilateral relations

Country Formal Relations Began Formal Relations Ended Notes
 Kosovo 28 April 2015 28 November 2018 Solomon Islands recognized Kosovo as an independent state on 13 August 2014, and established diplomatic relations with Kosovo on 28 April 2015. However, it withdrew its decision to recognize Kosovo as an independent state on 28 November 2018.[71][72][73][74]
 Republic of China 24 March 1983 14 September 2019 Solomon Islands maintained diplomatic relations with Republic of China (Taiwan) from 24 March 1983 with resident diplomatic missions in both respective capitals. In April 2017, Solomon Islands Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga visited Taiwan and met with President Tsai Ing-wen at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei. Both of them discussed exchanges and future cooperation between the two sides.[75] However, on 14 September 2019, the Solomon Islands parliament voted to recognize the People's Republic of China instead of the Republic of China. The Republic of China in response cut all ties to the Pacific nation, closing its embassy in Honiara on 17 September 2019.[76] On 21 September 2019 Solomon Islands and the People's Republic of China issued a joint communiqué establishing relations. An exchange of ambassadors on both sides is yet to be made.[77]

Main multilateral involvement

Solomon Islands is a member of the United Nations, UNESCO, the Commonwealth, South Pacific Commission, Pacific Islands Forum, International Monetary Fund, and the European Economic Community/African, Caribbean, Pacific Group (EEC/ACP)/(Lome Convention).

International organisation participation

ACP, AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, Commonwealth of Nations, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, United Nations, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO

See also

References

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