![U.S. President Joe Biden poses for photos with Pacific Island leaders.](https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/china-solomon-islands-us-pacific-11222023-1.jpg?w=519&h=259&crop=1)
The Solomon Islands has become the focus of a fierce geopolitical rivalry between the allies of the U.S. on one hand, and China on the other, after announcing an extensive security pact with Beijing a year and a half ago. But some are concerned that great power competition is overshadowing national development priorities.