Solomon Islands, Vanuatu consider forming militaries: Australia

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's ambition to create a defence force was first mentioned publicly in a press conference on July 17 after he returned from a week-long visit to China. - AP

SYDNEY (Reuters): Pacific Islands nations Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are considering forming defence forces and have discussed the matter with Australia, Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Wednesday (July 19).

Security partnerships in the region, where currently only five out of 18 members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) bloc have a military, have come into focus after China signed a security pact with Solomon Islands last year.