Solomon Islands is located in the southwest Pacific. There are nine provinces, across seven major islands and many smaller ones that form a double chain. The population of Somon Islands is approximately 820,000. The capital city, Honiara, lies on the north coast of Guadalcanal. Solomon Islands is a member of the Commonwealth and King Charles III is the Head of State, represented in Solomon Islands by a Governor General. The majority of the population is involved in subsistence and cash crop agriculture, with less than 10% of people involved in formal paid work. While Solomon Islands is endowed with natural resources such as gold, nickel and bauxite, tapping into these natural resources and realising Solomon Islands' economic potential is a challenge.
Solomon Islands does not have a military. Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) is responsible for maintaining internal control, providing fire services, and maritime patrols of their Exclusive Economic Zone. The RSIPF Maritime operates two Guardian-class patrol boats, Taro and Gizo, which Australia gifted. In September 2023, both boats were armed to address maritime security threats and challenges including illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing and transnational crime.