This week, I am covering the effect of the Ukraine War on Solomon Islands, as well as its response to and stance on the conflict. 

The Solomon Islands, having recently signed a deal with China, seems to have taken a relatively neutral stance. Its leaders have so far neglected extensive commentary on the matter of the blatant overstepping of Russia, which is a known ally of China. By electing not to take a stance for or against Russia, Solomon Islands is possibly attempting to achieve a certain neutrality. They have possibly determined that it would be against the best interest of their diplomatic allegiance with China to condemn the actions of Russia, but simultaneously will not act overly conflictingly against their neighboring nations in the surrounding pacific. Despite this attempt at neutrality, officials in Canberra and surrounding countries have understood this path of less action to be hostility, and some have gone as far as to suggest direct military confrontation of the Solomon Islands. This allegiance with China, and in turn Russia, is seen among the UN as a threat to the security of the south pacific. I think that the reason the Solomon Islands are an area of such concern for all parties is because they are in close proximity to the shipping routes between Australia and the States, as well as Asia. Honestly, I feel bad for them. Their diplomatic action is considerably substantial not only to them, but to a good number of other countries. It feels like it almost eliminates their unique sense of sovereignty. As far as the effects on the Solomon Islands, they seem minimal, however they have been taken a blow. Due to the fact that their economical condition is relatively flimsy in and of itself, they are especially liable to volatile fluctuation in the prices of energy and food.