Solomon Islands PM floats idea of Pacific-wide security pact

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has proposed exploring a Pacific-wide security agreement, saying regional issues should be addressed first by Pacific nations themselves.

Wale raised the idea during high level talks during high-level talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra earlier this month.

The proposal centres on the idea of a “Pacific-led security architecture”, with countries taking the lead in shaping how the region responds to shared challenges.

While still at an early stage, the proposal adds to a growing regional push to rethink how Pacific nations approach issues ranging from defence cooperation to climate change to transnational crime and regional security.

Wale has been strengthening ties with Australia since taking office, including talks on a new bilateral treaty and a review of existing arrangements involving China.

He also pledged to review the Solomon Islands' existing security agreement with China while maintaining Honiara's long-standing position of being "friends to all, enemies to none".

Speaking during a press conference in Canberra, Wale said: "The first reference point in these matters is within the region," and referred to possibility of establishing "a treaty at some stage at the regional level".

As PIF chair until September, Wale is expected to use his position to encourage wider regional discussion on the proposal before his term ends.

The proposal comes as Australia continues to strengthen security partnerships across the Pacific including with Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tonga, Nauru and Solomon Islands.

The proposal comes amid growing regional discussions about how Pacific countries can work together on shared challenges, including climate change, security and regional stability. Photo/Facebook/Pacific Security Council

But experts say moving from discussion to a single regional framework would be difficult.

Oliver Nobetau of the Lowy Institute said the concept made sense in principle but would be hard to deliver in practice given the diversity of approaches across the region.

"This seems like a no-brainer but there's also an obvious reason why it hasn't happened yet," he told ABC Pacific.

"Trying to get one cohesive approach when there's such varied approaches to security across the region is an uphill battle".

Nobetau said Australia may continue focusing on strengthening existing bilateral agreements instead of shifting towards a single regional model.

Dr Anna Powles, a security expert from Massey University, told the ABC several key issues would need to be resolved before any agreement could progress.

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She says this includes whether it would be legally binding, how it would address concerns around militarisation, and how it would fit within existing regional structures.

Powles also pointed to practical challenges including how such a framework would respond to instability in places such as New Caledonia or Bougainville.

Officials in Canberra and Honiara have not provided further detail on the discussions.

Australian government sources have said that the immediate focus remains on finalising bilateral arrangements with the Solomon Islands.

Prime Minister Wale is expected to discuss the proposal further with Pacific leaders in the coming months as debate continues over how the region should shape its own security future.