“At the request of the Solomon Islands Government, Australia has extended its contribution to the Solomons International Assistance Force (SIAF) to June 2024 to assist in the security of the national general elections,” a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement. ,
“Australia is proud to be the primary security partner of the Solomon Islands, and will also deploy additional security personnel to support the Pacific Games in Honiara.”
More Australian personnel have been sent after Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare signed a new deal with Beijing in July, allowing China to maintain a police presence in the developing South Pacific nation until 2025.