The (in)security dilemma: Bilateral security agreements in the Pacific Islands region

Security in the Pacific Islands region has long been coordinated through a patchwork of multilateral, minilateral, and bilateral arrangements, agreements, and institutions. However, since 2018, there has been an escalation in bilateral security agreements by many external partners to solidify trust within an uncertain geopolitical environment. These agreements are mired in secrecy and political fallout and are no longer limited to traditional security issues. The proliferation of bilateral security arrangements reveals a (re)configuration of what “security” means in the region. The escalation has created a security dilemma, with the opposite effect of what was intended: insecurity. This article examines recent bilateral security agreements between Pacific Island states and external partners (including China, Australia, and the United States) since 2018, and their domestic and regional consequences.