Australia has committed $190 million to support the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force and will establish a new police training centre in Honiara. The funding package was announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, following recent developments in Solomon Islands politics.
In a joint statement, Mr Albanese and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele highlighted that the assistance aims to enhance the Pacific nation’s security capabilities and decrease reliance on external partners. Mr Manele had earlier expressed the need to double the police force’s size to address ongoing challenges following unrest in November 2021.
The $190 million will be allocated over four years, focusing on funding, training, and infrastructure to strengthen the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force sustainably. While Australia previously committed to assisting Solomon Islands, details of this new package were disclosed during the announcement.
Unlike other agreements Australia has signed with Pacific nations such as Tuvalu and Nauru, this funding package does not grant Australia veto powers over Solomon Islands’ national security and policing decisions. China currently maintains a presence in Solomon Islands with a team of rotating police officers providing training across various provinces. The new arrangement does not affect the ongoing activities of these Chinese police teams.
Prime Minister Albanese noted that the Solomon Islands, as a sovereign nation, would continue its existing measures but emphasised that the agreement reinforces Australia’s role as a key security partner. The initiative is part of broader efforts to support stability and development in the Pacific region.
