Hello, everyone.
Last February, I announced that the United States would establish an embassy in Solomon Islands.
Now – thanks to the hard work and commitment of so many people – that pledge is a reality.
I’m grateful to our partners in Honiara and across Solomon Islands, who’ve helped us open these doors.
Thank you, as well, to our State Department team, whose dedication and tireless efforts have made today possible.
The United States is a Pacific country, and for more than 40 years, the United States and Solomon Islands have worked together to tackle the biggest issues facing our Pacific community.
We’ve partnered to expand inclusive economic opportunities, reduce poverty, and promote sustainable economic development.
We’ve helped build greater resilience against the climate crisis and its effects – from rising sea levels to severe storms.
And we’ve teamed up to improve public health and combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
This embassy will accelerate that vital collaboration – building on decades of ties between our governments and our people.
We’ll do so at an important moment for the region we share.
Because, more than any other part of the world, the Indo-Pacific region – including the Pacific Islands – will shape the world’s trajectory in the 21st century.
That’s an economic and demographic fact, and it’s a reality reflected by the pivotal role that Indo-Pacific governments – like Solomon Islands – are playing on the most consequential issues of our time.
The United States is committed to working with Solomon Islands and other partners to support an Indo-Pacific that is free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient.
We’re also dedicated to advancing the vision of the Declaration on U.S.-Pacific Partnership – a vision of a Pacific region that’s peaceful, inclusive, and harmonious.
A place where individuals can reach their potential, the environment can thrive, and democracy can flourish.
From our embassy in Honiara, we’ll be better positioned to advance those goals, tackle shared challenges, and meet shared opportunities.
We’ll support more travel between our countries.
We’ll foster new and deeper partnerships between our communities, businesses, and institutions.
We’ll further our collaboration with friends across the region through organizations like the Pacific Islands Forum, and build greater support for new initiatives like the Partners in the Blue Pacific.
And in all that we do for Americans and Solomon Islanders, we will build on our greatest strength: the long-standing ties between our people.
During World War Two, Americans and Solomon Islanders fought side-by-side.
Between 1971 to 2000, generations of Americans built bonds with local communities in Solomon Islands as Peace Corps volunteers.
Today, we’re working together to bring this program back to Solomon Islands.
For decades, students and professionals from Solomon Islands have visited the United States through exchanges.
And since 2013, rising leaders from civil society, government, and business have deepened their skills and their networks through our Young Pacific Leaders program.
And Solomon Islanders are a vibrant part of the Pacific Island diaspora in communities across the United States.
Forty-five years ago, President Jimmy Carter sent a letter to Governor General Bad-dell-ey Dev-ee-see to establish diplomatic relations between our countries.
President Carter wrote that, after decades of shared history, he was – quote – “confident that the friendship between our two countries [would] grow even closer in the years to come.”
Today, we are taking another important step forward in friendship, helping deliver for our people, for the region we share, and the world we seek.
Thank you.