BY NED GAGAHE
Prime Minister Matthew Wale says Solomon Islands will not become a source of uncertainty or instability in the Pacific region, particularly on security matters affecting both the country and its regional partners.
Speaking to local media following his return from official visits to Australia and New Zealand, Mr Wale said his government is focused on rebuilding and resetting relations with partners under its “friends to all” foreign policy approach.
“So aside from foreign policy, friends to all are there. No need for us to say enemies to none. We don’t have enemies,” Mr Wale said.
However, the Prime Minister admitted that Solomon Islands’ foreign relations in recent years may not have always reflected that approach.
“But I think the way that foreign policy was carried, was conducted before now, maybe not really true,” he said.
Mr Wale said one of the Government’s priorities is to restore confidence and trust with regional partners through open and stable engagement.
“So, what we’ve done is we’ve got to reset relations as well,” he said.
The Prime Minister stressed that Solomon Islands has no intention of creating strategic uncertainty in the Pacific region.
“Part of this ‘friends to all’ is to say that Solomon Islands will not be the source of uncertainty and instability for the region when it comes to security for the region and security for Solomon Islands,” he said.
“We are not creating strategic uncertainty. It means no good for the partners in the region,” Mr Wale added.
The Prime Minister’s comments come amid ongoing regional interest in Solomon Islands’ foreign and security relations, particularly following recent diplomatic and security developments in the Pacific.
Photo credit: Ned Gagahe
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