Solomon Islands to Allow U.S. Coast Guard Patrols Amid China Ties

The Solomon Islands will soon sign a deal allowing the U.S. Coast Guard to patrol its waters, accompanied by local police, Prime Minister Matthew Wale announced during a visit to Washington aimed at bolstering bilateral ties. This move signifies an effort to enhance maritime cooperation with the United States, even as the South Pacific nation has strengthened its relationship with China in recent years, notably through a security pact signed in 2022.

Wale, who assumed office in May with a pledge for change, met with Admiral Thomas Allan, the vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, while in the U.S. on Monday. A statement from the U.S. State Department indicated that Wale also held discussions with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau regarding the evolving relationship between the two countries.

During the visit, Deputy Secretary Landau and Prime Minister Wale signed a Letter of Intent to re-establish the Peace Corps in the Solomon Islands. This initiative underscores the ongoing efforts to deepen engagement and cooperation between the two nations across various sectors.

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Deputy Secretary Landau and Prime Minister Wale signed a Letter of Intent to return Peace Corps to Solomon Islands.