The Solomon Islands parliament elected opposition leader Matthew Wale as the new prime minister, a result welcomed by Australia as it is competing with China for influence in the country. In the parliamentary vote, Wale defeated Peter Shanel Agovaka with 26 votes to 22. Former Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele was ousted in a vote of no confidence on May 7.
Following his election on Friday, Wale expressed his emotions, stating, “We are taking over the government at a difficult time amid global turmoil. We cannot escape the impact of these geopolitical events.”
According to the Canberra Times, the country signed a security agreement with Beijing in 2022, causing concerns among the United States and neighboring countries in the South Pacific. Wale has previously criticized the agreement, believing it would affect regional security and jeopardize relationships with existing partners, although reports indicate that his attitude towards China has softened in recent years.
In an interview with Australian media on Friday, Wale stated that he would first “review” the agreement with China and then “decide how to proceed.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulated Wale on social media on Friday, saying, “Looking forward to working with you to continue strengthening our partnership in economics, development, and security.”
Connor Graham, a Pacific researcher at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, stated, “Wale’s victory is a win for Canberra’s preferred partners, but the 2022 security agreement and Chinese infrastructure will not disappear.”