Hezbollah warns disarmament plan could spark civil war
The government wants to control arms in line with a US-backed plan following Israel's military campaign against Hezbollah, which was founded four decades ago with the backing of Tehran's Revolutionary Guards.
But the group is resisting pressure to disarm, saying that cannot happen until Israel ends its strikes and occupation of a southern strip of Lebanon that had been a Hezbollah stronghold.
"This is our nation together. We live in dignity together, and we build its sovereignty together - or Lebanon will have no life if you stand on the other side and try to confront us and eliminate us," its leader Naim Qassem said in a televised speech on Friday.
Israel has dealt Hezbollah heavy blows in the past two years, killing many of its top brass including former leader Hassan Nasrallah and 5000 of its fighters, and destroying much of its arsenal.
The Lebanese cabinet last week tasked the army with confining weapons only to state security forces, a move that has outraged Hezbollah.
Qassem accused the government of implementing an "American-Israeli order to eliminate the resistance, even if that leads to civil war and internal strife".
However, he said Hezbollah and the Amal movement, its Shi'ite Muslim ally, had decided to delay any street protests while there was still scope for talks.
"There is still room for discussion, for adjustments, and for a political resolution before the situation escalates to a confrontation no one wants," Qassem said.
"But if it is imposed on us, we are ready, and we have no other choice ... At that point, there will be a protest in the street, all across Lebanon, that will reach the American embassy."
The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which left parts of Lebanon in ruins, erupted in October 2023 when the group opened fire at Israeli positions along the southern border in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas at the start of the Gaza war.
Hezbollah and Amal still retain influence politically, appointing Shi'ite ministers to cabinet and holding the Shi'ite seats in parliament.
But for the first time in years, they do not hold a "blocking third" of cabinet, enabling them to veto government decisions in the past.
Hezbollah retains strong support among the Shi'ite community in Lebanon, but calls for its disarmament across the rest of society have grown.
Hezbollah has raised the spectre of civil war with a warning there will be "no life" in Lebanon if the government seeks to confront or eliminate the Iran-backed group.
The government wants to control arms in line with a US-backed plan following Israel's military campaign against Hezbollah, which was founded four decades ago with the backing of Tehran's Revolutionary Guards.
But the group is resisting pressure to disarm, saying that cannot happen until Israel ends its strikes and occupation of a southern strip of Lebanon that had been a Hezbollah stronghold.
"This is our nation together. We live in dignity together, and we build its sovereignty together - or Lebanon will have no life if you stand on the other side and try to confront us and eliminate us," its leader Naim Qassem said in a televised speech on Friday.
Israel has dealt Hezbollah heavy blows in the past two years, killing many of its top brass including former leader Hassan Nasrallah and 5000 of its fighters, and destroying much of its arsenal.
The Lebanese cabinet last week tasked the army with confining weapons only to state security forces, a move that has outraged Hezbollah.
Qassem accused the government of implementing an "American-Israeli order to eliminate the resistance, even if that leads to civil war and internal strife".
However, he said Hezbollah and the Amal movement, its Shi'ite Muslim ally, had decided to delay any street protests while there was still scope for talks.
"There is still room for discussion, for adjustments, and for a political resolution before the situation escalates to a confrontation no one wants," Qassem said.
"But if it is imposed on us, we are ready, and we have no other choice ... At that point, there will be a protest in the street, all across Lebanon, that will reach the American embassy."
The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which left parts of Lebanon in ruins, erupted in October 2023 when the group opened fire at Israeli positions along the southern border in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas at the start of the Gaza war.
Hezbollah and Amal still retain influence politically, appointing Shi'ite ministers to cabinet and holding the Shi'ite seats in parliament.
But for the first time in years, they do not hold a "blocking third" of cabinet, enabling them to veto government decisions in the past.
Hezbollah retains strong support among the Shi'ite community in Lebanon, but calls for its disarmament across the rest of society have grown.
Hezbollah has raised the spectre of civil war with a warning there will be "no life" in Lebanon if the government seeks to confront or eliminate the Iran-backed group.
The government wants to control arms in line with a US-backed plan following Israel's military campaign against Hezbollah, which was founded four decades ago with the backing of Tehran's Revolutionary Guards.
But the group is resisting pressure to disarm, saying that cannot happen until Israel ends its strikes and occupation of a southern strip of Lebanon that had been a Hezbollah stronghold.
"This is our nation together. We live in dignity together, and we build its sovereignty together - or Lebanon will have no life if you stand on the other side and try to confront us and eliminate us," its leader Naim Qassem said in a televised speech on Friday.
Israel has dealt Hezbollah heavy blows in the past two years, killing many of its top brass including former leader Hassan Nasrallah and 5000 of its fighters, and destroying much of its arsenal.
The Lebanese cabinet last week tasked the army with confining weapons only to state security forces, a move that has outraged Hezbollah.
Qassem accused the government of implementing an "American-Israeli order to eliminate the resistance, even if that leads to civil war and internal strife".
However, he said Hezbollah and the Amal movement, its Shi'ite Muslim ally, had decided to delay any street protests while there was still scope for talks.
"There is still room for discussion, for adjustments, and for a political resolution before the situation escalates to a confrontation no one wants," Qassem said.
"But if it is imposed on us, we are ready, and we have no other choice ... At that point, there will be a protest in the street, all across Lebanon, that will reach the American embassy."
The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which left parts of Lebanon in ruins, erupted in October 2023 when the group opened fire at Israeli positions along the southern border in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas at the start of the Gaza war.
Hezbollah and Amal still retain influence politically, appointing Shi'ite ministers to cabinet and holding the Shi'ite seats in parliament.
But for the first time in years, they do not hold a "blocking third" of cabinet, enabling them to veto government decisions in the past.
Hezbollah retains strong support among the Shi'ite community in Lebanon, but calls for its disarmament across the rest of society have grown.
Hezbollah has raised the spectre of civil war with a warning there will be "no life" in Lebanon if the government seeks to confront or eliminate the Iran-backed group.
The government wants to control arms in line with a US-backed plan following Israel's military campaign against Hezbollah, which was founded four decades ago with the backing of Tehran's Revolutionary Guards.
But the group is resisting pressure to disarm, saying that cannot happen until Israel ends its strikes and occupation of a southern strip of Lebanon that had been a Hezbollah stronghold.
"This is our nation together. We live in dignity together, and we build its sovereignty together - or Lebanon will have no life if you stand on the other side and try to confront us and eliminate us," its leader Naim Qassem said in a televised speech on Friday.
Israel has dealt Hezbollah heavy blows in the past two years, killing many of its top brass including former leader Hassan Nasrallah and 5000 of its fighters, and destroying much of its arsenal.
The Lebanese cabinet last week tasked the army with confining weapons only to state security forces, a move that has outraged Hezbollah.
Qassem accused the government of implementing an "American-Israeli order to eliminate the resistance, even if that leads to civil war and internal strife".
However, he said Hezbollah and the Amal movement, its Shi'ite Muslim ally, had decided to delay any street protests while there was still scope for talks.
"There is still room for discussion, for adjustments, and for a political resolution before the situation escalates to a confrontation no one wants," Qassem said.
"But if it is imposed on us, we are ready, and we have no other choice ... At that point, there will be a protest in the street, all across Lebanon, that will reach the American embassy."
The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which left parts of Lebanon in ruins, erupted in October 2023 when the group opened fire at Israeli positions along the southern border in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas at the start of the Gaza war.
Hezbollah and Amal still retain influence politically, appointing Shi'ite ministers to cabinet and holding the Shi'ite seats in parliament.
But for the first time in years, they do not hold a "blocking third" of cabinet, enabling them to veto government decisions in the past.
Hezbollah retains strong support among the Shi'ite community in Lebanon, but calls for its disarmament across the rest of society have grown.
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9 News
28 minutes ago
- 9 News
Trump's 'abrupt' ceasefire deal reversal after Putin talks
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here In talks with European allies after Friday's summit in Alaska, Trump said Putin reiterated that he wants the key Donetsk and Luhansk regions that make up the Donbas. But Putin appeared open to the possibility of halting the stalemate in two other regions, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, with a freeze along the front lines. President Trump and Russian President Putin meet in Alaska. (Getty) That is according to European officials familiar with the calls who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the talks at a US military base between the American and Russian presidents. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously rejected giving up the territory in the Donbas. The aftermath of the summit offered little clarity about the next steps, other than Trump's commitment for more meetings, including with Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday. It was unclear among those briefed on the exchanges whether Trump saw Putin's desire for the Donbas as acceptable, with Trump's blunt but elliptical way of speaking only adding to a sense of confusion. The White House had yet to provide a public summary of the calls as Trump played golfed Saturday at his Virginia club. The most transparent takeaway was Trump's abrupt reversal on a ceasefire, raising questions of how peace talks can proceed if attacks continue. Trump's abandoning a ceasefire as a requirement for further negotiations aligns him with a position held by Putin. The Russian leader has long said Moscow is not interested in a temporary truce and is seeking a long-term settlement that takes the Kremlin's interests into account. Trump speaks during an event at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC. (Getty) After the calls with Zelenskyy and European leaders, Trump said Saturday on social media that 'it was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up.' German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told ZDF television that Trump said 'Russia seems to be prepared to conduct the negotiations based on the so-called line of contact and not the administrative boundaries.' It was unclear from the comments how issues pertaining to the Donbas had been resolved. Zelenskyy has previously refused to withdraw from the remaining 30 per cent of the Donetsk region that Ukraine controls. He says that would be unconstitutional and the territory could be used as a staging ground for later Russian attacks. In a statement after the Trump call, major European leaders did not address whether a peace deal was preferable to a ceasefire, saying they 'welcomed President Trump's efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine, end Russia's war of aggression, and achieve just and lasting peace.' Putin described his talks with Trump as 'very frank.' 'We, of course, respect the position of the American administration, which sees the need for a speedy end to military actions,' he said at the follow-up meeting at the Kremlin, a clip of which was posted to the Kremlin's Telegram channel. 'We would like to move to resolving all issues by peaceful means.' Trump's suggestion that a peace agreement should be reached before a ceasefire appears to indicate his thinking is 'shifting towards Putin,' an approach that would allow Moscow to keep fighting while negotiating, said Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London. Putin has 'broken out of international isolation' and 'wasn't in the least challenged' by Trump, who also ignored an arrest warrant issued for Putin by the International Criminal Court, said Laurie Bristow, who was British ambassador to Russia from 2016 to 2020. But the US isn't a member of the court and thus doesn't have an obligation to arrest him. 'Unless Mr. Putin is absolutely convinced that he cannot win militarily, the fighting is not going to stop,' Bristow said. 'That's the big takeaway from the Anchorage summit.' Zelenskyy has previously refused to withdraw from the remaining 30 per cent of the Donetsk region that Ukraine controls. (Getty) Zelenskyy, who was not invited to Alaska for the summit, said he had a 'long and substantive' conversation with Trump early Saturday and that they would 'discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war' on Monday. It will be Zelenskyy's first visit to the United States since Trump berated him publicly for being 'disrespectful' during an extraordinary Oval Office meeting in February. Trump confirmed the White House meeting and said that 'if all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin.' Zelenskyy reiterated the importance of involving European leaders, who also were not at the summit, 'to ensure reliable security guarantees together with America.' 'We also discussed positive signals from the American side regarding participation in guaranteeing Ukraine's security,' he said. The Ukrainian leader did not elaborate, but he has previously said European partners put on hold a proposal to establish a foreign troop presence in Ukraine to deter Russian aggression because it lacked an American backstop. In apparent effort to bolster Zelenskyy's hand before the White House meeting, France, the United Kingdom and Germany will co-host a video call today of 'coalition of the willing' nations that could help monitor and uphold any deal to end fighting, French President Emmanuel Macron's office said. Trump greets Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as he arrives at the White House on February 28, 2025. (China News Service via Getty Ima) The French, German, Italian, British, Finnish, Polish and European Union leaders said 'Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees' and they welcomed US readiness to provide them. 'It will be up to Ukraine to make decisions on its territory,' their statement said. 'International borders must not be changed by force.' During an interview with Fox News Channel before returning to Washington, Trump insisted the onus might be on Zelenskyy 'to get it done,' but that there also would be some involvement from European nations. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said 'the harsh reality is that Russia has no intention of ending this war anytime soon,' noting that Moscow launched new attacks on Ukraine even as the delegations met. 'Putin continues to drag out negotiations and hopes he gets away with it. He left Anchorage without making any commitments to end the killing,' she said. Ukrainian and Russian forces are fighting along a 1000km front line. Since spring, Russian troops have accelerated their gains, capturing the most territory since the opening stages of the war. Zelenskyy voiced support for Trump's proposal for a meeting with the US and Russia. He said that 'key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders, and a trilateral format is suitable for this.' But Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, told Russian state television Saturday that a possible three-way meeting 'has not been touched upon yet' in US-Russia discussions. Zelenskyy wrote on X that he told Trump "sanctions should be strengthened if there is no trilateral meeting or if Russia tries to evade an honest end to the war.' CONTACT US
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
After PNG, Australia's soft power game with China extends to Solomons
Somewhere in a remote mountain village, or perhaps on the dusty streets of Honiara, a youngster is kicking a football and dreaming big – and could soon be caught up in the Pacific's great geopolitical battle of our time. Australia's regional rivalry with China was a key driver of the federal government's $600 million decade-long commitment to Papua New Guinea's NRL team. That same contest is at play in neighbouring Solomon Islands, an impoverished nation where the World Game reigns supreme, and where a new fully professional soccer club is taking shape. Solomon Kings FC, a joint venture between the Solomon Islands Football Federation and Brisbane club Wynnum Wolves, is a near-certainty to be an inaugural member of the FIFA-backed Oceania Professional League. The club's moniker is a nod to King Solomon, the biblical figure after whom the nation was named. 'Informally, we have been given the guarantee that we will be in,' SIFF president Donald Marahare told this masthead. 'It's just the formalities – we have to make sure that we take all the boxes and there should be certainty in terms of getting us participating Pro League.' Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has thrown his weight behind the club, and discussions have been held with the Australian High Commission in Honiara about Australian government support. While an interview request with Australian High Commissioner Rod Hilton was denied, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said the Commonwealth actively engaged with Pacific nations through sport. 'The Australian government's partnership with Football Australia provides increased opportunities for Pacific men's and women's national teams to train and compete with Australian teams, in Australia and across our region,' she said. 'Australia is Solomon Islands' largest development partner.' But on the ground in Solomon Islands, China's influence still looms large. The new national stadium, which the Solomon Kings will call home, was funded by the Chinese government to host the 2023 Pacific Games. In response to China's growing influence, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a $190 million security deal with Solomon Islands last year. That came two years after a similar deal was reached between China and Solomon Islands, which caused alarm in Australian defence circles. 'In terms of their influence, they [China] have entered or intruded into every aspect here in the Solomons,' Marahare said. 'At one stage, probably two years ago, they were prepared to provide support the football federation, in terms of equipment and staff. 'They insisted on us signing a paper to promote the One China policy, to actually sign a public document, which we had reservations to do.' But that might not always be the case. 'The Solomon Kings FC will definitely need financial, budgetary support and we will not hesitate to call on or to actually approach the Chinese government if there's a need,' Marahare said. 'Certainly this will not go down well with the Australian government, but this is something that we will need to talk about or discuss in the near future.' One of the club's driving forces, Wolves chairman and former North Queensland Cowboys chief executive Rabieh Krayem, said the Kings' potential for Australian sports-led, soft-power diplomacy could rival the NRL team in PNG. Loading 'From the Australian government perspective, it's a no-brainer, to be quite honest,' he said. 'I mean, you saw the prime minister in China talking to Kevin Muscat – well, I've got to tell you, football in the Solomon Islands will do more for diplomacy than anything else. 'In PNG, rugby league's the No.1 sport, but they also have football. In the Solomons, it's football No.1, 2 and 3 – the best way I can describe it is it's like being in Brazil.' Though based in Honiara, Solomon Kings will have a secondary training base at the Wolves' Carmichael Park in bayside Brisbane. Initially, OPL rounds will be held in one location – similar to the NRL's Magic Round – with the hope of eventually evolving to a home-and-away competition. And with the Queensland government teasing an upgrade to Perry Park, Krayem said the Bowen Hills venue could serve as the Kings' second home ground. 'You're bringing eight teams from eight different locations into Brisbane to play here for 10 days,' he said. 'From an economic perspective, it's a massive economic boost for Queensland.' Krayem's journey with Solomon Kings started about two years ago, when he met with Oceania Football Confederation president Lambert Maltock. Having failed to get the Brisbane United joint venture for the second-tier Australian Championship over the line, Krayem considered a solo Wolves entry to the new OPL, which would allow a maximum of one Australian side to join. 'At that point of time, airfares and accommodation were to be funded by FIFA, and to the most consistent team over a four-year period qualifies for the [FIFA Club World Cup],' he said. Oceania representative Auckland City took home more than $AU7 million for competing at this year's tournament. 'That's huge. I said, why wouldn't we do that?' Krayem said. But when it became clear Australian clubs would have to fund their own airfares and be denied entry to the lucrative Club World Cup, due to Australia's membership of the Asian Football Confederation, Krayem took a different approach and teamed up with the SIFF. He said it was an obvious partnership for a club with a connection to the Solomon Islands that started a quarter-century ago, when the club took a team over to play exhibition matches. Several Solomon Islander internationals have played in Wynnum's black and white kit – colours it shares with German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund, with which it has established formal links, and the new Solomon Kings FC. Loading Krayem said 65 per cent of Solomon Islanders in Australia lived in south-east Queensland, which had the only direct route by air to their homeland. 'There's already that sort of connection,' he added. 'A lot of Australian businesses operate out of Brisbane straight into Honiara and I think they want to grow their tourism.' The Kings have lined up a chief executive with English Premier League experience, and have already agreed terms with a high-profile head coach. But as important as success on the field would be for the club financially, it was the transformational effect on the community that excited the Kings' backers. 'As soon as it's dark, kids get out when no one's on the road and they're kicking a ball. I think the impact that we could have, what Australia could do for them, through football is huge,' Krayem said. The International Monetary Fund estimates the Solomon Islands' per capita GDP is just $US2380 (Australia's, by comparison, is $US65,550). For this Pacific island nation, the potential benefits of this new venture could be invaluable. 'It is an opportunity for the kids and the youth to have something to look forward to,' Marahare said. 'One thing for certain is that you go anywhere in the villages, all the villages in the provinces, it's very difficult to see clinics and hospitals, but you will be able to see soccer pitches, soccer fields everywhere. 'And this is a testament of how people, both in the urban and in the rural areas, love football.' And with Brisbane set to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, engagement with Pacific nations through sport would only get more important. Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris said while he was unaware of the Solomon Kings until informed by this masthead, the diplomatic potential of sport to solidify links with the Pacific was central to Games planning. 'They really feel that these are their Games as well, and there is definitely a geopolitical positive to that,' he said. 'In other words, Oceania – a vast amount of territory, small population, small islands, strategically important to Australia – is not lost on us, nor the Prime Minister, nor DFAT.'
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
After PNG, Australia's soft power game with China extends to Solomons
Somewhere in a remote mountain village, or perhaps on the dusty streets of Honiara, a youngster is kicking a football and dreaming big – and could soon be caught up in the Pacific's great geopolitical battle of our time. Australia's regional rivalry with China was a key driver of the federal government's $600 million decade-long commitment to Papua New Guinea's NRL team. That same contest is at play in neighbouring Solomon Islands, an impoverished nation where the World Game reigns supreme, and where a new fully professional soccer club is taking shape. Solomon Kings FC, a joint venture between the Solomon Islands Football Federation and Brisbane club Wynnum Wolves, is a near-certainty to be an inaugural member of the FIFA-backed Oceania Professional League. The club's moniker is a nod to King Solomon, the biblical figure after whom the nation was named. 'Informally, we have been given the guarantee that we will be in,' SIFF president Donald Marahare told this masthead. 'It's just the formalities – we have to make sure that we take all the boxes and there should be certainty in terms of getting us participating Pro League.' Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has thrown his weight behind the club, and discussions have been held with the Australian High Commission in Honiara about Australian government support. While an interview request with Australian High Commissioner Rod Hilton was denied, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said the Commonwealth actively engaged with Pacific nations through sport. 'The Australian government's partnership with Football Australia provides increased opportunities for Pacific men's and women's national teams to train and compete with Australian teams, in Australia and across our region,' she said. 'Australia is Solomon Islands' largest development partner.' But on the ground in Solomon Islands, China's influence still looms large. The new national stadium, which the Solomon Kings will call home, was funded by the Chinese government to host the 2023 Pacific Games. In response to China's growing influence, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a $190 million security deal with Solomon Islands last year. That came two years after a similar deal was reached between China and Solomon Islands, which caused alarm in Australian defence circles. 'In terms of their influence, they [China] have entered or intruded into every aspect here in the Solomons,' Marahare said. 'At one stage, probably two years ago, they were prepared to provide support the football federation, in terms of equipment and staff. 'They insisted on us signing a paper to promote the One China policy, to actually sign a public document, which we had reservations to do.' But that might not always be the case. 'The Solomon Kings FC will definitely need financial, budgetary support and we will not hesitate to call on or to actually approach the Chinese government if there's a need,' Marahare said. 'Certainly this will not go down well with the Australian government, but this is something that we will need to talk about or discuss in the near future.' One of the club's driving forces, Wolves chairman and former North Queensland Cowboys chief executive Rabieh Krayem, said the Kings' potential for Australian sports-led, soft-power diplomacy could rival the NRL team in PNG. Loading 'From the Australian government perspective, it's a no-brainer, to be quite honest,' he said. 'I mean, you saw the prime minister in China talking to Kevin Muscat – well, I've got to tell you, football in the Solomon Islands will do more for diplomacy than anything else. 'In PNG, rugby league's the No.1 sport, but they also have football. In the Solomons, it's football No.1, 2 and 3 – the best way I can describe it is it's like being in Brazil.' Though based in Honiara, Solomon Kings will have a secondary training base at the Wolves' Carmichael Park in bayside Brisbane. Initially, OPL rounds will be held in one location – similar to the NRL's Magic Round – with the hope of eventually evolving to a home-and-away competition. And with the Queensland government teasing an upgrade to Perry Park, Krayem said the Bowen Hills venue could serve as the Kings' second home ground. 'You're bringing eight teams from eight different locations into Brisbane to play here for 10 days,' he said. 'From an economic perspective, it's a massive economic boost for Queensland.' Krayem's journey with Solomon Kings started about two years ago, when he met with Oceania Football Confederation president Lambert Maltock. Having failed to get the Brisbane United joint venture for the second-tier Australian Championship over the line, Krayem considered a solo Wolves entry to the new OPL, which would allow a maximum of one Australian side to join. 'At that point of time, airfares and accommodation were to be funded by FIFA, and to the most consistent team over a four-year period qualifies for the [FIFA Club World Cup],' he said. Oceania representative Auckland City took home more than $AU7 million for competing at this year's tournament. 'That's huge. I said, why wouldn't we do that?' Krayem said. But when it became clear Australian clubs would have to fund their own airfares and be denied entry to the lucrative Club World Cup, due to Australia's membership of the Asian Football Confederation, Krayem took a different approach and teamed up with the SIFF. He said it was an obvious partnership for a club with a connection to the Solomon Islands that started a quarter-century ago, when the club took a team over to play exhibition matches. Several Solomon Islander internationals have played in Wynnum's black and white kit – colours it shares with German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund, with which it has established formal links, and the new Solomon Kings FC. Loading Krayem said 65 per cent of Solomon Islanders in Australia lived in south-east Queensland, which had the only direct route by air to their homeland. 'There's already that sort of connection,' he added. 'A lot of Australian businesses operate out of Brisbane straight into Honiara and I think they want to grow their tourism.' The Kings have lined up a chief executive with English Premier League experience, and have already agreed terms with a high-profile head coach. But as important as success on the field would be for the club financially, it was the transformational effect on the community that excited the Kings' backers. 'As soon as it's dark, kids get out when no one's on the road and they're kicking a ball. I think the impact that we could have, what Australia could do for them, through football is huge,' Krayem said. The International Monetary Fund estimates the Solomon Islands' per capita GDP is just $US2380 (Australia's, by comparison, is $US65,550). For this Pacific island nation, the potential benefits of this new venture could be invaluable. 'It is an opportunity for the kids and the youth to have something to look forward to,' Marahare said. 'One thing for certain is that you go anywhere in the villages, all the villages in the provinces, it's very difficult to see clinics and hospitals, but you will be able to see soccer pitches, soccer fields everywhere. 'And this is a testament of how people, both in the urban and in the rural areas, love football.' And with Brisbane set to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, engagement with Pacific nations through sport would only get more important. Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris said while he was unaware of the Solomon Kings until informed by this masthead, the diplomatic potential of sport to solidify links with the Pacific was central to Games planning. 'They really feel that these are their Games as well, and there is definitely a geopolitical positive to that,' he said. 'In other words, Oceania – a vast amount of territory, small population, small islands, strategically important to Australia – is not lost on us, nor the Prime Minister, nor DFAT.'
