Solomon Islands PM floats Pacific-wide security treaty in sharp pivot

Matthew Wale met with Anthony Albanese in Canberra this month. (ABC News: Adam Kennedy) New Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has raised the idea of a Pacific-wide security treaty with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The ABC has been told Mr Wale has made it clear he believes China should not play a major role in Pacific security, and that there should be a "Pacific-led" security architecture. Experts say the idea has merit, but would require time to build consensus among Pacific countries. Link copiedShareShare articleThe new prime minister of Solomon Islands has floated the idea of a Pacific-wide security pact during a visit to Canberra, in a move that could have significant strategic implications for the region. The ABC has been told that Matthew Wale, who is also the chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), raised the proposal with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his visit in early June. Mr Wale has made a sharp pivot towards Australia since taking office, kickstarting negotiations on a new treaty and promising to "review" the China-Solomon Islands security pact, although he has backtracked on a previous commitment to publish the text of the contentious agreement. He has been careful not to criticise Beijing, saying it is a valued economic partner for Solomon Islands and insisting he wants to maintain a policy of "friends to all, enemies to none". Matthew Wale was voted in as Solomon Islands's new prime minister in May. (ABC News: Adam Kennedy) But the ABC has been told that Mr Wale has made it clear that he shares Australia's conviction that China should not play a major role in Pacific security and that there should be a "Pacific-led" security architecture. The ABC has been told Mr Wale raised the idea of a Pacific-wide security treaty as a way of cementing regionalism, while adding he was in a strong position to kickstart formal discussions on the proposal as he holds the PIF chair until September this year. Mr Wale made a veiled reference to the idea during his press conference in Canberra when he spoke about a treaty "at some stage at the regional level", saying the "first reference point in these matters is within the region". But it is not yet clear whether either Australia or New Zealand are willing to throw their weight behind the idea, which analysts say would carry both significant opportunities and risks. A spokesperson for Mr Wale declined to comment on the discussions, as did a spokesperson for Mr Albanese. One federal government source did not criticise Mr Wale's idea, but stressed that Australia's main focus for now was on negotiating its new treaty with Solomon Islands. Several senior Australian politicians are expected to visit the Pacific nation in the coming months as the federal government tries to cement the progress it made during Mr Wale's visit. Oliver Nobetau from the Lowy Institute said while there might be "real merit" to the idea, it could "easily backfire for Australia and New Zealand if they put their weight behind it before there's wide buy-in from the Pacific". The ABC can reveal that after months of fraught negotiations, the Nakamal Agreement has been approved by Vanuatu's cabinet but omits key limitations on China's influence. "This seems like a no-brainer, but there's also an obvious reason why it hasn't happened yet," he said. "Trying to get one cohesive approach when there's such varied approaches to security across the region is an uphill battle, which has to be fought." Mr Nobetau also suggested Australia might prefer to focus on bedding down a host of bilateral agreements it is negotiating or has recently signed with a host of Pacific nations, including Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tonga and Nauru. Pacific security expert Anna Powles from Massey University said Mr Wale seemed to be "acting with considerable urgency in the face of what he may fear is a short political window of opportunity". But she said that it would "take time to secure consensus across the region" for any new pact. Tuvalu is building new land to hold back rising sea levels, but the majority of its people are applying to relocate to Australia. As they do, many are confronting a disturbing question. "The key political and legal questions Wale's proposed regional security agreement raises are, for example, would it be a legal or non-binding instrument?" she said. "How would it reflect Pacific concerns about militarisation? Where in the regional security architecture would it sit, and who would have oversight? "And ultimately, what would its purpose be in times of regional crises, such as instability in non-sovereign states such as New Caledonia or in the case of renewed instability in Bougainville?" The ABC understands Mr Wale is expected to discuss this idea, which is in its early stages, with several other Pacific leaders, including Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka during a visit in the coming weeks. The ABC has con

Solomon Islands PM floats Pacific-wide security treaty in sharp pivot

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