Australia and Solomon Islands sign new security deal

Australia and Solomon Islands sign new security deal

Australia and the Solomon Islands have signed a deal allowing Canberra to deploy security forces to its Pacific neighbour in the event of civil unrest.

The agreement was signed amid a week-long Australian visit by Solomon Islands PM Manasseh Sogavare.

In June, Australia ended a 14-year peacekeeping mission in the Soloman Islands following a civil conflict that brought it to the brink of collapse.

Mr Sogareve said he he hoped the new deal would never be acted upon.

"The treaty is about if we fall back into a situation where we were in the 2000s, Australia would come back and assist us," he was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
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