US, Solomon islands discuss return of Peace Corps program after 25 years

WASHINGTON — U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale to discuss strengthening ties between the two countries and signed a letter of intent to restart the Peace Corps program in the islands after more than 25 years, the State Department said Tuesday.

The Solomon Islands, located about 1,240 miles (2,000 kilometers) northeast of Australia, is considered by analysts to have some of the closest relations with China among Pacific island nations. The country signed a security pact with Beijing in 2022, raising concerns in Washington as the United States seeks to expand its engagement in the strategically important Pacific region.

During their meeting on Monday, Landau and Wale discussed efforts to encourage investment in the Solomon Islands and strengthen cooperation, the State Department said. Landau also announced that the United States would provide $6 million in new funding to expand efforts to remove unexploded World War II ordnance from the islands, including areas where the historic Battle of Guadalcanal was fought between U.S. and Japanese forces.

Landau is serving as acting director of the Peace Corps, a U.S. government program that sends volunteers to support development projects in countries around the world.

The Peace Corps said that more than 700 volunteers served in the Solomon Islands between 1971 and 2000, working on education, community development and health programs. The organization suspended operations in the country in 2000 due to political unrest.

The announcement comes after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Solomon Islands counterpart last week, following China's military test launch of a missile with a dummy warhead from a nuclear-powered submarine into the South Pacific.

The missile test drew criticism from several Pacific nations, including the Solomon Islands. Wale said China remained "a good friend of Solomon Islands," but added that the missile launch was "not something a friend does." He also pledged to strengthen ties with Australia.

-Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Jamie Freed/Reuters