As BFD readers will surely be aware, I’m no fan of the Solomon Islands government and its security pact with China. But, if nothing else, the whole affair serves to throw a harsh light on the rank hypocrisy of the media-political rhetoric over the Ukraine war. It also shows that even a busted clock can occasionally tell the time correctly — and that history can hold some harsh truths for the sanctimonious.
After years of declaring that Russia has no right whatsoever to a sphere of influence and that NATO overtures to Ukraine are none of its business, our leaders have pivoted to thundering about the Solomons’ deal with China. Because it intrudes into our sphere of influence. The Biden administration warned that if China established a base in the Solomons, the US would have “significant concerns and respond accordingly”. Australian PM Scott Morrison said it would be a “red line”.
Which is exactly what US diplomats advised for decades that a US presence in Ukraine would be, to Russia.
The rhetoric has pushed the Solomon Islands PM to respond in kind. In particular, to Barnaby Joyce’s description of the Solomons as “our little Cuba”.
“We deplore the continual demonstration of lack of trust by the concerned parties, and tacit warning of military intervention in Solomon Islands if their national interest is undermined in Solomon Islands,” [Manasseh Sogavare] said.
“In other words, we are threatened with invasion.
“What is more insulting, Mr Speaker, in this attitude, and therefore totally unacceptable, is we are being treated as kindergarten students walking around with Colt .45s in our hands, and therefore we need to be supervised. We are insulted.”
Well, no: you’re being treated as what you are: a greedy, tinpot panjandrum trying to play bigger powers off against each other in order to shore up your own shaky rule.
Still, if we’re going to pontificate about the sovereign independence of countries on the other side of the world, what right have we to act the suzerain in our own region?
We also don’t get to accuse the folk we don’t like of “re-writing history”, then turn around and do the same.
Echoing Chinese and Russian talking points, Mr Sogavare said there were “two sides” to the story of the Cuban missile crisis and the war in Ukraine.
Note the sneer: “Chinese and Russian talking points”. Because Sogavare, like him or not, is absolutely correct. Especially about Cuba.
“Russia was not the aggressor in the Cuban missile crisis. No.
“It was in response to the presence of American Jupiter ballistic missiles in Italy and Turkey and the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, Soviet secretary Khrushchev agreed to Cuba’s request to establish nuclear missiles on the island to deter future invasion.”
This is all basic fact. Kennedy came to power on Cold War hawk rhetoric about a “missile gap”, which was a knowing lie. More importantly, the Russians knew it was a lie, too. So, when Kennedy began building up the US’ nuclear arsenal even bigger than it was and stationing US missiles near the Soviet border, of course the Russians were alarmed.
At the same time, the US embargo of Cuba, then its failed invasion at the Bay of Pigs, is widely acknowledged as finally pushing Cuba and the USSR, who had formerly had little interest in one another, into an alliance. At Cuba’s invitation, the USSR retaliated against US missiles on its doorstep, by moving Russian missiles to the US doorstep.
Kennedy nearly provoked a nuclear war with his brinkmanship, yet today is lionised as an American hero.
The whiff of hypocrisy only deepens when foreign policy mavens call the unwelcome history lesson “unhinged”.
Former Australian Strategic Policy Institute head Peter Jennings said Mr Sogavare’s rhetoric was “as unhinged as Fidel Castro’s”.
“Sogavare should remember that the Cuban missile crisis ultimately left Cuba isolated from its neighbours in the Caribbean, with a mouldering economy, and its youth fighting Russia’s proxy wars in Africa,” he said.
Mr Jennings said Mr Sogavare’s reaction to Australian and US concerns over the China agreement showed “Australian politicians have been pandering to Pacific leaders with soft soap rhetoric about the Pacific family”.
“When a genuine crisis comes along sometimes we need to remind the region that Australia has security interests that need to be respected,” he said.
The Australian
Vladimir Putin couldn’t have put it better.
Just in case anyone missed the point, the comments section of the Australian, which has been thundering against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is today filled with calls to invade the Solomons, for “regime change”, and turning the islands into an Australian protectorate.
But, hey, it’s different when we do it.