In the Solomon Islands, where memories of civil unrest and ethnic violence are still fresh, the government’s plan to create a defence force has raised both hope and concerns.
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For some, it is a step towards stability; for others, it is a potential flashpoint in a region increasingly pulled between China and the West.
Jimson Tanangada, the Pacific nation’s police and national security minister, told parliament earlier this month that the government was exploring the creation of a defence force as part of its National Security Strategy, launched earlier this year.
This is not an attempt to militarise our nation
The strategy aims to address evolving security threats while ensuring Solomon Islands’ sovereignty, stability and resilience.
“This is not an attempt to militarise our nation but rather a long-term nation-building effort that aims to enhance Solomon Islands’ resilience, sovereignty and self-reliance,” Tanangada reportedly said.
The proposed defence force would focus on areas where the country’s police force is currently overstretched, including disaster response, border security and maritime threats. If realised, the Solomon Islands would become only the fourth Pacific island nation with a military.
The China choice