The US Administration declared its commitment to deepen interaction with countries of the southern part of the Pacific Ocean and warned them against cooperation with Beijing.

On hearings of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on April 26, Antony Blinken stated that Washington had received official assurances from Solomon Islands that they are not planning to set up a base for the needs of China. He also noted that the US will continue to monitor the situation.

At the same day during the teleconference with the US Department of State’s Asia Pacific Media Hub in Manila Daniel Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, voiced the details of a recent trip to the southern part of the Pacific Ocean of the US delegation, led by the 1st National Security Council Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific Kurt Campbell.

On Fiji the American delegation met with Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and held a strategic dialogue with senior members of his government. They also met with the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) Secretariat to discuss a variety of topics from enhancing US engagement with the PIF to climate change and environmental resilience and coast guard cooperation. In Papua New Guinea they had a meeting with Prime Minister James Marape, the defense secretary and the chief of the armed forces of the country. They have discussed expanding security cooperation, crime prevention and regional stability. Daniel Kritenbrink did not disclose any details about the agreements reached. He also described the negotiations as productive.

Taking into account the current situation in the region, it was decided to create a strategic dialogue mechanism with Solomon Islands (seems like at the level of Deputy Secretary of State). The first meeting is scheduled for September. Daniel Kritenbrink emphasized the US intention to expand the diplomatic cooperation with the southern part of the Pacific Ocean according to the US Indo-Pacific Strategy. In particular, the opening of the American diplomatic mission on Solomon Islands is planned by the end of the year. He also admitted the possibility of new official visits in foreseeable future.

Daniel Kritenbrink routinely noted, that the growing influence of Beijing in Oceania poses such threats as strengthening the military presence of China, militarization of the region and uncontrollable fishing trade. At the same time Washington’s double standards are striking in the example of the agreement between China and Solomon Islands. While ignoring worries of other countries about indivisible defense, Washington demonstrate its determination to oppose encroachment on the sphere of their traditional influence.