Days after the Solomon Islands signed a pact with China, senior Biden administration officials traveled there to meet with government leaders.
Kurt Campbell, the National Security Council’s Indo-Pacific coordinator, led the delegation, which met for 90 minutes on Friday with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and roughly two dozen members of his Cabinet and staff. The United States will open an embassy on the island.
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The Solomon Islands occupy a strategic position in the Pacific, and Western officials have expressed concern that the islands’ pact with China enhances its influence in the region.
“The United States respects the right of nations to make sovereign decisions in the best interests of their people,” a readout from the White House stated. “The two sides engaged in substantial discussion around the recently signed security agreement between Solomon Islands and the People’s Republic of China.”
“Solomon Islands representatives indicated that the agreement had solely domestic applications, but the U.S. delegation noted there are potential regional security implications of the accord, including for the United States and its allies and partners,” it continued. “The U.S. delegation outlined clear areas of concern with respect to the purpose, scope, and transparency of the agreement.”
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The Pentagon has repeatedly called China its “pacing challenge” and frequently warns about its growing military presence in the region.
The U.S. would “have significant concerns” if steps are taken by China and the Solomon Islands for the former to establish a permanent military presence in the latter, the readout continued, also noting that the U.S. will “expedite” the opening of an embassy on the island.
