Foreign relations of Solomon Islands


The foreign policy of the Solomon Islands was described by the Solomon Islands government as a "look north" policy, aimed as strengthening diplomatic and economic relations with Asian countries for development purposes.

Diplomatic Representation

Countries with diplomatic missions in Solomon Islands are Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The U.S. ambassador resident in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea is also accredited to the Solomon Islands. Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Sweden and Malaysia have Honorary Consuls.
Solomon Islands has diplomatic missions in Canberra, Papua New Guinea, Taipei, at the United Nations in New York, where the ambassador there is also accredited as its ambassador to the United States of America, UNESCO in Paris and high commissioner to Canada and at the European Commission in Brussels where the representative is also accredited as High Commissioner to the UK.

Bilateral relations

Current

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
29 July 2016
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 July 2016.
See Australia–Solomon Islands relations
Relations with Australia were, until recently, strained, with prime minister Manasseh Sogavare, accusing Australia of "heavy-handed" interference in Solomon Islands' domestic affairs, subsequently expelling Australia's high commissioner Patrick Cole. In a nationally televised address, Sogavare claimed that the Australian-led security forces in Solomon Islands had not dealt properly with the country's underlying problems.
"We are concerned that Canberra's policies are aimed at excluding and containing the peoples of the region, instead of working collectively to address fundamental problems of social instability that can only be solved through dialogue, rather than the use of development aid, and political force as leverage, to dictate Australia's involvement"

Sogavare also claimed that Australia's involvement in the region could be "driving this country down the path of another conflict that could be more serious" than the April 2006 riots that broke out after an election won by the former deputy prime minister Snyder Rini, when thousands of anti-government protesters burned down buildings in Solomon Islands' capital Honiara's Chinese district, alleging that either the People's Republic of China or the Republic of China had paid lawmakers to vote for Rini.
Sogavare's successor, prime minister Derek Sikua, almost immediately set out to mend relations with Australia upon assuming office in December 2007.
October 2005
Both countries established diplomatic relations in October 2005.
February 2011
In February 2011, Azerbaijan and the Solomon Islands signed a mutual understanding, cooperation, and to strengthen the friendly relations which established diplomatic relations between the two nations.
17 November 2010
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 November 2010.
  • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
7 July 1978
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 July 1978.
  • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
    • 21 September 2019On 16 September 2019, the Solomon Islands parliament voted to end diplomatic recognition of Taiwan and to recognise China. Taiwan subsequently closed its embassy in Honiara on 17 September 2019. The new arrangement with PRC remained to be ratified on 19 September but is expected to proceed. Following this move, a provincial leader had offered to lease one of the Solomon Islands to China in a deal that the government deemed illegal.
    See Cuba–Solomon Islands relationsIn the late 2000s, Solomon Islands began to strengthen their relations with Cuba.
    In April 2007, the Solomon Star reported that Solomon Islands' high commissioner to the United Nations was soon to be sworn in as ambassador to Cuba. In September 2007, it was announced that 40 Cuban doctors would be sent to the Solomon Islands. The Solomons’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Patterson Oti said that Solomon Islander doctors would "learn from their Cuban colleagues in specialised areas". In addition to providing doctors, Cuba provided scholarships for 50 Solomon Islanders to study medicine in Cuba for free.
    In September 2008, Solomon Islands' foreign minister William Haomae attended the first Cuba-Pacific Islands ministerial meeting in Havana, aimed at "strengthening cooperation", notably in coping with the impact of climate change.
    In July 2014, Solomon Islands prime minister Gordon Darcy Lilo opened the Solomon Islands embassy in Havana, thus becoming the first Pacific Island country to have an embassy and resident ambassador in Cuba.
    5 May 2010
    • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 May 2010.
    • Cyprus is represented in the Solomon Islands via parallel accreditation of its embassy in Canberra, Australia.
    • Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations.
    See Fiji–Solomon Islands relationsIn August 2008, it was announced that Solomon Islands intended to open a High Commission in Suva, and in December the government of Fiji announced that it had "formally endorsed the establishment of a Resident Diplomatic Mission in Suva by the Government of the Solomon Islands". Fiji's High Commission to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Solomon Islands.

    Relations between both countries are very limited.
    March 2011
    Both countries established diplomatic relations in March 2011.
    11 July 1978
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 July 1978.
    1987
    • Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1987.
    • Greece is represented in the Solomon Islands via parallel accreditation of its embassy in Canberra, Australia.
    26 November 1996
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 November 1996.
  • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
    • May 1987See India–Solomon Islands relationsDiplomatic relations between India and the Solomon Islands were established in May 1987.
    January 1989
    Both countries established diplomatic relations in January 1989.
    7 July 1978
    Diplomatic relations between Japan and Solomon Islands were established on 7 July 1978, the date the Solomon Islands became independent. Japan maintains an embassy at Honiara.
    December 2014
    Both countries established diplomatic relations in December 2014.
    28 June 2012
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 June 2012.
    20 September 2012
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 September 2012.
    See Malaysia–Solomon Islands relations
    Malaysia has an honorary consul in Solomon Islands while Malaysia high commission in Port Moresby also accredited to the country, and Solomon Islands has a high commission in Kuala Lumpur.
    18 October 1989
    • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 October 1989.
    • Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations.
    23 May 1990Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 May 1990.
    26 September 2008
    • Mexico is accredited to the Solomon Islands from its embassy in Canberra, Australia.
    • Solomon Islands does not have an accreditation to Mexico.
    5 April 1990The Federated States of Micronesia and the Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations on 5 April 1990.
    13 October 2011
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 October 2011.
    23 December 2010
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 December 2010.
    15 December 2011
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 December 2011.

    • The Netherlands are represented in the Solomon Islands by its embassy in Canberra, Australia.
    • The Solomon Islands are represented in the Netherlands by its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
    Solomon Islands and Pakistan established foreign relations in February 2016, when high commissioner designate Naela Chohan, Pakistan's ambassador resident in Canberra, arrived in Honiara to sign an accord with minister for foreign affairs Milner Tozaka for the formal establishment of diplomatic ties. A Joint Communique issued by the two senior officials remarked upon numerous areas of cooperation, including education, and policing, as well as bilateral trade ties

    Relations with Papua New Guinea, which had become strained because of an influx of refugees from the Bougainville rebellion and attacks on the northern islands of Solomon Islands by elements pursuing Bougainvillean rebels, have been repaired. A peace accord on Bougainville confirmed in 1998 has removed the armed threat, but refugee return has been slow.
    Relations between the current governments of prime minister Derek Sikua and prime minister Michael Somare are,, cordial.
    6 March 2012
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 March 2012.
    1 February 2011
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 February 2011.
    4 May 2011
    • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 May 2011.
    • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
    July 2014Both countries established diplomatic relations in July 2014.
    13 September 2012
    Both countries have established diplomatic relations on 13 September 2012.
    21 April 1987
    • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 April 1987.
    • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
    11 December 1996
  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 December 1996.
  • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
    • 15 September 1978South Korea and the Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations on the 15 September 1978.

    • Both countries established diplomatic relations in July 2013.
    • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
    20 December 2007Solomon Islands and Switzerland established formal diplomatic relations on 20 December 2007, when representatives of both nations signed a joint communiqué in Canberra. Beraki Jino, High Commissioner of Solomon Islands to Australia, and Christian Muhlethaler, Ambassador of Switzerland to Australia, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments.
    2014
    Both countries established diplomatic relations in 2014.
    8 March 1979
    • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 March 1979.
    • Turkey is represented in the Solomon Islands via parallel accreditation of its embassy in Canberra.
    Ukraine is represented in the Solomon Islands by its embassy in Canberra, Australia.
    29 April 2010
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 April 2010.
    See Solomon Islands–United Kingdom relations
    Bilateral relations with the UK remain strong. The UK's bilateral aid programme in Solomon Islands ended in early 2004 when the UK's regional aid programme came to a close. However, UK funding through the EU, the largest multilateral donor to Solomon Islands, will continue. The UK contributes almost 15% of the EU development budget in Solomon Islands. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office assistance to Solomon Islands is focused on security sector reform, good governance, sustainable development and poverty alleviation. Among the activities supported in the last two years are: education on HIV/AIDS, rural clinics, collective farming and empowerment of women. Sir Nathaniel Waena, the Governor-General of Solomon Islands, visited the UK in 2006 to celebrate the Queen's 80th Birthday.
    7 July 1978See Solomon Islands–United States relations
    • Solomon Islands are accredited to the United States from its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City.
    • United States is accredited to the Solomon Islands from its embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
    In October 2008, Solomon Islands prime minister Derek Sikua moved to establish economic relations with Venezuela, hoping to benefit from comparatively cheap Venezuelan oil. In a rare display of bipartisanship, Solomons Opposition leader Manasseh Sogavare praised his political rival for this move, stating that -in the context of the financial crisis of 2007–2008, it would bring down the price of oil for Solomon Islanders, and boost the economy if the Solomons imported crude Venezuelan oil, refined it and then exported it to neighbouring countries.
    30 October 1996
    Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 October 1996.

    Former bilateral relations

    CountryFormal Relations BeganFormal Relations EndedNotes
    28 April 201528 November 2018Solomon Islands recognized Kosovo as an independent state on 13 August 2014, and established diplomatic relations with Kosovo on 28 April 2015. However, it withdrew its decision to recognize Kosovo as an independent state on 28 November 2018.
    24 March 198314 September 2019Solomon Islands maintained diplomatic relations with Republic of China from 24 March 1983 with resident diplomatic missions in both respective capitals. In April 2017, Solomon Islands Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga visited Taiwan and met with President Tsai Ing-wen at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei. Both of them discussed exchanges and future cooperation between the two sides. However, on 14 September 2019, the Solomon Islands parliament voted to recognize the People's Republic of China instead of the Republic of China. The Republic of China in response cut all ties to the Pacific nation, closing its embassy in Honiara on 17 September 2019. On 21 September 2019 Solomon Islands and the People's Republic of China issued a joint communiqué establishing relations. An exchange of ambassadors on both sides is yet to be made.

    Main multilateral involvement

    Solomon Islands is a member of the United Nations, UNESCO, the Commonwealth, South Pacific Commission, Pacific Islands Forum, International Monetary Fund, and the European Economic Community/African, Caribbean, Pacific Group /.

    International organisation participation

    , AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, Commonwealth of Nations, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, United Nations, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO