US reopens Solomons embassy, vying with China for influence

WASHINGTON, 03 January 2023, (TON): The United States reopened its embassy in the Solomon Islands after a 30-year hiatus, part of a bid to counter China’s growing influence in the South Pacific.

Re-establishing the diplomatic outpost was a renewal “of our commitment to the people of Solomon Islands and our partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region”, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

The US closed its embassy in the capital Honiara in 1993 after the end of the Cold War led to a reduction in diplomatic posts and a shift in priorities.

Washington signalled its intent to re-establish a Honiara embassy in early 2022 before the Solomons signed a secret security pact with China.

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