The United States has warned the Solomon Islands that it will retaliate “accordingly” if China were to install a “permanent military presence” in the Pacific archipelago after the signing of a controversial security agreement, the House reported on Friday. -White.
A high-level US delegation that visited the Solomons explained to the island’s leaders that if Beijing were to move towards “establishing a de facto permanent military presence”, it would cause “serious concerns” among the people. United States which “will retaliate accordingly”, said the American presidency in a press release. This also applies in the event of the establishment of any “military installation” or “force projection capabilities” that would allow a Chinese deployment in the region, she said.
“No military base, no long-term presence”
Emissaries from the White House and the US State Department traveled to the Solomon Islands on Friday where they met with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. While Washington wanted to convince the archipelago not to sign an agreement with Beijing, they seem to have been taken aback on Tuesday by the formalization of this rapprochement.
“In response to the concerns raised, Prime Minister Sogavare reiterated his assurances specifically guaranteeing that there would be no military base, no long-term presence, and no force projection capabilities,” the presidency explained. American. “The United States stressed that it would follow developments closely in consultation with its regional partners. »
The American delegation also insisted on the “potential implications for regional security”, contesting, during “substantial discussions”, “the objective, the scope and the transparency of the agreement”.
Security Dialogue
But the Americans also assured “respect the right” of the Solomons to make “their sovereign decisions”, and tried to woo the islands by multiplying gestures towards them. Among them, the acceleration of the opening of an American embassy, the strengthening of cooperation on unexploded mines, the dispatch of a hospital ship for public health assistance or the delivery of additional vaccines. .
The two countries have also pledged to launch a “high-level strategic dialogue” which will focus in particular on the sensitive issue of security.