THE presence of the Australian police will be visible in the Solomon Islands until April 2024.
The news came at a time when the small island nation of less than one million people forged closer ties with China.
The Australian police will stay in the Solomon Islands to provide security for the Pacific Games in November and the National Elections, which typically take place between May and August.
Five thousand athletes from two dozen nations will participate in the regional sporting event in the Capital City of Honiara between November 19 and December 2, 2023.
On August 4, the Solomon Islands formally requested Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to extend the Australian police presence until June 2024 to cover the election.
The Solomon Islands signed a security deal with China last year, which alarmed the United States, Australia, and neighboring Pacific nations.
Both nations also signed an agreement on police cooperation during his visit to Beijing in July.
The blossoming ties between the Solomon Islands and China have concerned Western powers amid the rivalry between Washington and Beijing for more significant influence in the Pacific.
Sogavare denied reports that China was planning to establish a military base in the island nation and thanked Beijing for addressing global challenges during its latest visit to the Asian country.
