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US Reopens Embassy in Solomon Islands Amid Tensions With China in Indo-Pacific

© Photo : U.S. Embassy Port MoresbyThe US opens an embassy in Honiara, Solomon Islands
The US opens an embassy in Honiara, Solomon Islands - Sputnik India, 1920, 02.02.2023
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The Solomon Islands and its region are strategically crucial for the US as a gateway to Asia for its Pacific partners.
The US reopened its embassy in the Solomon Islands last month in Honiara — 30 years after it was closed.
In a post on Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the embassy had opened its doors in Honiara on January 27, adding that the move “symbolizes a renewal of our relationship” and “the strength of our partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Last April, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Solomon counterpart Jeremiah Manele signed an inter-governmental framework agreement on security cooperation. However, much about the deal remains unknown, while experts suggest Beijing could be negotiating umbrella pacts with around a dozen other Pacific island nations.

The pact did not sit well with Australia, with Canberra suggesting it could lead to a Chinese military presence on the islands.
The US and its Pacific allies have been concerned with growing Chinese influence in the region, making its another foothold for geopolitical rivalry.
Following Beijing's updates, the US convened its first-ever summit of Pacific leaders, in which the US promised to deepen ties with the Pacific Islands Forum – maritime security and “the sustainable use of the Pacific Ocean based on the rule of law.”
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