Australia's deputy prime minister pledges support to Solomon Islands during visit to Honiara
Time:2024-05-22 10:11:00 Source:travelViews(143)
NEWCASTLE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s deputy prime minister pledged support to the Solomon Islands during a visit to the archipelago nation on Tuesday, as Canberra intensifies efforts to counter China’s growing influence in the South Pacific.
Richard Marles’ trip to the capital, Honiara, was the first by an Australian government minister since Jeremiah Manele was elected Solomon Islands’ new prime minister earlier this month.
Marles pledged to provide healthcare and border control support to the island nation and said at a news conference his visit provided an opportunity to discuss Solomons’ “priorities and the way in which Australia can help and contribute.”
“Australia sought to be the Solomons’ go-to security partner and had to work to earn that right. Hence, going to Solomon Islands quickly,” said Marles, who is also Australia’s defense minister.
You may also like
- Vatican makes fresh overture to China, reaffirms that Catholic Church is no threat to sovereignty
- Audit report finds German green transition lags behind targets
- Tesla plans to lay off 10% of workforce, multiple news outlets report
- Katy Perry can barely contain her excitement as she gets ready to see Doja Cat headline Coachella
- Germany and Real Madrid great Toni Kroos to retire after Euro 2024
- Displaced Lebanese long for home as Hezbollah
- What do women want? Mandarin pop song lyrics reveal a shift, study shows — Radio Free Asia
- Terracotta Warriors museum sees over 100,000 visits during holiday
- Fake elector case: Former Arizona GOP chair Kelli Ward and others set to be arraigned