Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, has concluded an official visit to Honiara after holding high-level talks with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele and Acting Prime Minister Frederick Kologeto, underscoring the close and expanding bilateral relationship between the two countries.
During his meeting with Prime Minister Manele, Mr. Marles discussed preparations for Solomon Islands’ 50th anniversary of independence in 2028, a major national milestone.
He congratulated the government on the upcoming celebrations and reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to supporting key national priorities, including the development of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Academy and other major infrastructure projects aligned with the anniversary.
The leaders reviewed Australia’s wide-ranging development assistance to Solomon Islands, covering sectors such as education, digital connectivity, renewable energy, rural development, health services, policing, and community partnerships.
Australia is Solomon Islands’ largest development partner, and cooperation between the two countries spans economic, security, and institutional strengthening initiatives.
In separate discussions with Acting Prime Minister Kologeto, Mr. Marles focused on the bilateral security partnership and priority areas for economic cooperation, including tourism, agriculture, natural resource management, and progress on the Tina River Hydropower Project — a major renewable energy initiative aimed at reducing the country’s reliance on imported diesel fuel.
As part of the visit, Mr. Marles formally handed over four high-specification Parrot drones to Solomon Islands’ National Disaster Management Office (NDMO).
The equipment will enhance the country’s disaster response capacity by enabling rapid aerial assessments of affected areas and improving search-and-rescue operations in the immediate aftermath of natural disasters — a critical capability for the Pacific island nation, which is highly vulnerable to cyclones, earthquakes, and flooding.
Speaking at the handover ceremony at Aola Wharf in Honiara, Mr. Marles described the drones as “a symbol of the friendship and partnership between Solomon Islands and Australia,” adding that they demonstrate both countries stand “shoulder to shoulder” in times of crisis.
The Australian Defence Force has provided training to NDMO personnel to ensure the drones can be operated independently as a sovereign national capability. The donation forms part of Australia’s broader humanitarian support package, which also includes plans to construct two new humanitarian warehouses in Honiara and Auki to strengthen emergency preparedness and logistics capacity across the country.
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