by Georgina Maka’a
Prime Minister Matthew Wale’s first overseas trip will be to Australia this weekend, where he will hold talks with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Canberra.
Wale, who assumed power two weeks ago on May 15 following the ousting of his predecessor Jeremiah Manele is a no-confidence vote, is expected to lead a delegation of cabinet ministers.
The Australian Associated Press (AAP) has reported that Wale will meet Albanese at Parliament House in Canberra on June 3.
“Prime Minister Wale’s decision to make Australia his first official international visit emphasises the importance of the relationship between our nations,” AAP quoted Albanese as saying.
“Despite the global challenges we confront, we recognise we are stronger facing these together as partners.”
Wale is currently on a “Reassurance Visit” to the cyclone Maila-stricken provinces of Choiseul and Western. He’ll be back in Honiara on Friday, ahead of his Sunday departure.
AAP has reported that economic development and security are expected to be high on the agenda.
Wale has been critical of a deal signed between the Solomon Islands and China, which was agreed upon in 2022 and sparked concerns from Australia.
The policing and military deal would impact security in the region and put relationships with other allies at risk, he warned at the time.
Wale, a long-time opposition leader who has been in parliament for two decades, was a vocal critic of the 2022 security pact.
At one point he called to revoke it; however, he later stepped back from that stance and instead called for the pact to be made public.
Speaking to the media after his election to the top job, Wale said he will “look at” the pact first and then “decide what to do with it”.
Australia has signalled it is willing to upgrade security ties with the Solomon Islands, if Wale is prepared to do so.
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