An American delegation in the Solomon Islands, three days after the signing of an agreement with China
U.S. National Security Council Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell (L) leaves after a meeting with Solomon Islands Opposition Leader Mathew Wale (R) in Honiara, April 22, 2022. AFP - MAVIS PODOKOLO
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The American delegation arrived this Friday, April 22, in the Solomon Islands, it must meet with the government of the archipelago and the opposition.
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A few days after
the signing between the archipelago and Beijing of a vast security agreement
which worries its longtime allies, an American delegation landed in the Solomon Islands on Friday.
It is led by the United States' chief Asia official, Kurt Campbell, and Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, and is due to take part in meetings with the government of the archipelago.
According to the White House, this delegation, "
ensures that our partnerships bring prosperity, security and peace to the Pacific Islands and the Indo-Pacific region
".
Before
the Solomon Islands
, she visited Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
US representatives also met with members of the opposition.
This Friday, it is with the leader of the opposition of the Solomon Islands, Mathew Wale, that Kurt Campbell spoke.
China's military presence in the South Pacific
This visit comes three days after the signing of a defense agreement between China and the Solomon Islands.
“
We are concerned about the lack of transparency and the indefinite nature of this agreement
,” a spokeswoman for American diplomacy told AFP this week.
The United States and Australia fear that this pact could pave the way for a military establishment of China in the South Pacific, thus allowing China to largely expand its military capabilities.
For his part, the Prime Minister of the archipelago, Manasseh Sogavare, affirmed that this agreement does not provide for the construction of a Chinese military base in his country.
The content of this agreement has not been made public.
For its part, France also considered
the security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands “
worrying ”, regretting in particular the lack of transparency of the pact as well as “
Chinese ambitions
” in the Indo-Pacific region.
► To read also: China and the Solomon Islands sign a security pact creating concern in Australia
(with AFP)
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United States
Solomon Islands
Diplomacy
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