DR. Kurt Campbell, President Biden’s U.S. National Security Council Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific concluded a visit to Solomon Islands focused on strengthening the bilateral relationship between our two countries. Campbell underscored the United States’ commitment to a free, open, secure, prosperous, and peaceful Indo-Pacific. The delegation also engaged with partners and allies to increase coordination and better serve the people of Solomon Islands.
Campbell was joined by U.S. Agency for International Development Assistant Administrator for Asia Michael Schiffer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau Of East Asian And Pacific Affairs Mark Lambert, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Michael Day, Commander, District 14. On the visit, Campbell underscored the United States’ commitment to meet the needs of the people of the Pacific where they live, and to support them on the urgent challenges that they face on a daily basis.
Campbell had a productive and positive meeting with Prime Minister Sogovare. After meeting with the Prime Minister, the delegation held the first-ever high-level strategic dialog with ministries of the Solomon Islands government led by Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Jeremiah Manele. The strategic dialog allowed both sides to concretely identify areas Solomon Islands and the United States can work together to address the critical challenges facing Solomon Islands today, such as the urgent demands of climate change, illegal fishing, protecting maritime and forest resources, unexploded ordinance from past conflicts, and education and economic initiatives.
The visit underscored the strong desire on both sides to welcome back Peace Corps volunteers to Solomon Islands. Likewise, the two sides discussed ways that the United States could support the government of Solomon Islands in its efforts to enhance its capacity to monitor and protect its maritime domain and resources.
Campbell also gave updates on several announcements made by President Biden to Pacific leaders at last year’s U.S.-Pacific Island Country summit, including an executive training program called the US-Pacific Institute for Rising Leader Fellowship. This fellowship will bring rising leaders from the Pacific Islands including Solomon Island to the United States later this year for capacity building and leadership training at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.
