Foreign relations of Solomon Islands

The foreign policy of Solomon Islands since 2008Template:Dated maintenance category (articles) 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 Solomon Islands. Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Sweden and Malaysia have Honorary Consuls.

Solomon Islands has diplomatic missions in Canberra, Papua New Guinea, 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.

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which the Solomon Islands maintains diplomatic relations with:

File:Diplomatic relations of Solomon Islands.svg
#	Country	Date
1	Australia	Template:Dts
2	Canada	Template:Dts
3	Nauru	Template:Dts
4	New Zealand	Template:Dts
5	Papua New Guinea	Template:Dts
6	United Kingdom	Template:Dts
7	Czech Republic	Template:Dts
8	Germany	Template:Dts
9	Samoa	Template:Dts
10	Fiji	Template:Dts
11	Japan	Template:Dts
12	South Korea	Template:Dts
13	United States	Template:Dts
14	France	Template:Dts
15	Belgium	Template:Dts
16	Turkey	Template:Dts
17	Kiribati	Template:Dts
18	Sweden	Template:Dts
19	Tonga	Template:Dts
20	Vanuatu	Template:Dts
21	Spain	Template:Dts
22	Tuvalu	Template:Dts
23	Norway	Template:Dts
24	Netherlands	Template:Dts
25	Malaysia	Template:Dts
26	Indonesia	Template:Dts
–	Holy See	Template:Dts
27	Thailand	Template:Dts
28	Italy	Template:Dts
29	Singapore	Template:Dts
30	India	Template:Dts
31	Greece	Template:Dts
32	Israel	Template:Dts
33	Maldives	Template:Dts
34	Federated States of Micronesia	Template:Dts
35	Brunei	Template:Dts
36	Kuwait	Template:Dts
37	Vietnam	Template:Dts
38	Portugal	Template:Dts
39	Guyana	Template:Dts
40	South Africa	Template:Dts
41	Finland	Template:Dts
42	Cuba	Template:Dts
43	Philippines	Template:Dts
44	Brazil	Template:Dts
45	Austria	Template:Dts
46	Iceland	Template:Dts
47	Venezuela	Template:Dts
48	Switzerland	Template:Dts
49	Mexico	Template:Dts
50	Palau	Template:Dts
51	Ireland	Template:Dts
52	United Arab Emirates	Template:Dts
53	Cyprus	Template:Dts
54	Marshall Islands	Template:Dts
55	Botswana	Template:Dts
56	Slovenia	Template:Dts
57	Luxembourg	Template:Dts
58	Seychelles	Template:Dts
59	Egypt	Template:Dts
60	Malta	Template:Dts
61	Montenegro	Template:Dts
62	Romania	Template:Dts
63	Morocco	Template:Dts
64	Uruguay	Template:Dts
65	Azerbaijan	Template:Dts
66	Qatar	Template:Dts
67	Comoros	Template:Dts
68	Dominica	Template:Dts
69	Guatemala	Template:Dts
70	Slovakia	Template:Dts
71	Nicaragua	Template:Dts
72	Bulgaria	Template:Dts
73	Paraguay	Template:Dts
74	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Template:Dts
75	Template:Country data Georgia	Template:Dts
76	Albania	Template:Dts
77	Gambia	Template:Dts
78	Estonia	Template:Dts
79	Cape Verde	Template:Dts
80	Hungary	Template:Dts
81	Eritrea	Template:Dts
82	Guinea	Template:Dts
83	Ukraine	Template:Dts
84	Mongolia	Template:Dts
85	Mauritania	Template:Dts
86	Nepal	Template:Dts
87	Ecuador	Template:Dts
88	Timor-Leste	Template:Dts
89	Ethiopia	Template:Dts
90	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Template:Dts
91	Tajikistan	Template:Dts
92	Cambodia	Template:Dts
93	Republic of the Congo	Template:Dts
94	Monaco	Template:Dts
95	Peru	Template:Dts
96	Croatia	Template:Dts
97	Moldova	Template:Dts
98	Poland	Template:Dts
99	Algeria	Template:Dts
100	Latvia	Template:Dts
101	Suriname	Template:Dts
102	Kazakhstan	Template:Dts
103	Belarus	Template:Dts
104	Panama	Template:Dts
105	Burundi	Template:Dts
106	Lithuania	Template:Dts
107	Liechtenstein	Template:Dts
108	Jamaica	Template:Dts
109	Sri Lanka	Template:Dts
110	El Salvador	Template:Dts
–	Cook Islands	Template:Dts
111	Antigua and Barbuda	Template:Dts
112	Grenada	Template:Dts
113	Trinidad and Tobago	Template:Dts
114	Saudi Arabia	Template:Dts
115	Kyrgyzstan	Template:Dts
116	Pakistan	Template:Dts
117	Mauritius	Template:Dts
118	Argentina	Template:Dts
119	Saint Lucia	Template:Dts
120	China	Template:Dts
121	Serbia	Template:Dts
122	Barbados	Template:Dts
123	Bahrain	Template:Dts
124	Chile	Template:Dts
125	Oman	Template:Dts
126	Dominican Republic	Template:Dts
127	Belize	Template:Dts
128	Uganda	Template:Dts
129	Bahamas	Template:Dts
130	Colombia	Template:DTS
131	Rwanda	Template:Dts
132	San Marino	Template:Dts
133	Armenia	Template:Dts
134	Benin	Template:Dts
135	Template:Country data North Macedonia	Template:Dts
136	Andorra	Template:Dts

Bilateral relations

Current

Country	Notes
Australia	See Australia–Solomon Islands relations Australia became the first country to establish diplomatic relations after the Solomon Islands became independent on 7 July 1978. Australia is the Solomon Islands' largest developmental partner and a key trading partner. Following the outbreak of conflict between the Guadalcanal and Malaitan peoples in 1998, Australia led a multinational peacekeeping and developmental assistance force known as RAMSI, which operated in the Solomons between 2003 and 2017. Australia is also a key security partner, signing a bilateral security treaty with the Solomons in mid August 2017. The two countries experienced several bilateral disagreements including the Julian Moti affair in 2006-2007 and a 2022 Chinese-Solomon Islands security pact.
China	See China–Solomon Islands relations On 16 September 2019, after bribing government officials, Solomon Islands parliament voted to end diplomatic recognition of Taiwan and to recognise China (PRC). 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 the island of Tulagi to China in a deal that the attorney general found to be illegal. In late March 2022, the Solomon Islands Government confirmed that it was drafting a security pact with China that would allow the deployment of Chinese military and security forces in the country, naval deployments, and the establishment of a military base. This acknowledgement came after a draft of the security agreement was leaked online. In response, the Australian and New Zealand Governments expressed concerns that the establishment of a Chinese military presence in Solomon Islands would have serious implications for peace and security in the Pacific region. In response, the Chinese Government defended law enforcement and bilateral cooperation with Solomon Islands and disputed Australian criticism that Beijing was coercing Solomon Islands.
Cuba	See Cuba–Solomon Islands relations In 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 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 Solomon Islands embassy in Havana, thus becoming the first Pacific Island country to have an embassy and resident ambassador in Cuba.
Cyprus	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 May 2010. Cyprus is represented in Solomon Islands via parallel accreditation of its embassy in Canberra, Australia. Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations.
Fiji	See Fiji–Solomon Islands relations In 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 Solomon Islands". Fiji's High Commission to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Solomon Islands.
Greece	Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1987. Greece is represented in Solomon Islands via parallel accreditation of its embassy in Canberra, Australia.
India	See India–Solomon Islands relations Diplomatic relations between India and Solomon Islands were established in May 1987.
Japan	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.
Malaysia	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.
Maldives	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 October 1989. Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations.
Netherlands	The Netherlands is represented in Solomon Islands by its embassy in Canberra, Australia. Solomon Islands is represented in the Netherlands by its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
New Zealand	See New Zealand–Solomon Islands relations The Solomon Islands and New Zealand established diplomatic relations on 7 July 1978. New Zealand is represented in Solomon Islands by its High Commission in Honiara. Solomon Islands is represented in New Zealand by its High Commission in Wellington.
Pakistan	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.
Papua New Guinea	Relations between the current governments of Prime Minister Derek Sikua (Solomon Islands) and prime minister Michael Somare (Papua New Guinea) are, at presentTemplate:Dated maintenance category (articles), cordial.
South Korea	See Solomon Islands–South Korea relations Solomon Islands and the Republic of Korea have established diplomatic relations on September 15, 1978. Solomon Islands and South Korea have nice diplomatic relations.
Switzerland	Solomon 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.
Turkey	See Solomon Islands–Turkey relations Turkish ambassador in Canberra to Australia is also accredited to Solomon Islands. Trade volume between the two countries was negligible in 2019.
Ukraine	Ukraine is represented in Solomon Islands by its embassy in Canberra, Australia.
United Kingdom	See Solomon Islands–United Kingdom relations The Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 7 July 1978. Both countries are Commonwealth Realms. Solomon Islands does not maintain a high commission in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is accredited to the Solomon Islands through its high commission in Honiara. The UK governed the Solomon Islands from 1893 until 1978, when the Solomon Islands achieved full independence. Both countries share common membership of the Commonwealth, and the World Trade Organization, as well as the Pacific States–United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Agreement. The British Solomon Islands Protectorate was one of the last areas of the British Empire to gain independence. The official name was changed from British Solomon Islands Protectorate to Solomon Islands in 1975. Self-government was granted in 1976 also under that name. On achieving full independence as a sovereign state in 1978, the two countries immediately established diplomatic relations. King Charles III is, severally, the head of state of both the United Kingdom and Solomon Islands. Although the two offices are vested in the same person, he exercises his role as King of Solomon Islands independently of his role as the King of the United Kingdom, consequently, the United Kingdom itself has no jurisdiction in Solomon Islands. Both the United Kingdom and Solomon Islands are members of the Commonwealth of Nations, and participate in events such as the Commonwealth Games. 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. Assistance is also provided through the Commonwealth of Nations, whose budget is supported by the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is one of only six countries to maintain a resident ambassador in Honiara, the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Solomon Islands. The current High Commissioner, since 2016, is David Ward. The British High Commission in Honiara represents British interests in the country and assists British citizens resident in, or visiting the country. The High Commission also funds local projects and assists in scholarships in the United Kingdom for Solomon Islands citizens. Solomon Islands is represented in the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, by the Solomon Islands Ambassador, who is also accredited as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
United States	See 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 has an embassy in Honiara.
Venezuela	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 2008 financial crisis, 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.

Former bilateral relations

Country	Formal Relations Began	Formal Relations Ended	Notes
Kosovo	28 April 2015	28 November 2018	Solomon 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.
Republic of China	24 March 1983	14 September 2019	Solomon Islands maintained diplomatic relations with Republic of China (Taiwan) 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 (EEC/ACP)/(Lomé Convention).

International organisation participation

OACPS, AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, Commonwealth of Nations, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, PIF, Sparteca, PC, United Nations, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

See also

• List of ambassadors of the Solomon Islands to China
• List of ambassadors of the Solomon Islands to Taiwan
• List of high commissioners of the United Kingdom to the Solomon Islands
• List of ambassadors of the Solomon Islands to the United States
• List of diplomatic missions in Solomon Islands
• List of diplomatic missions of Solomon Islands
• Minister of Foreign Affairs (Solomon Islands)

External links

• Solomon Islands Establish Diplomatic Relations with Switzerland
• "Foreign Policy Should be Driven by Rational Dialogue", Solomon Times, 22 April 2008