second biggest recipient of Australian aid, behind Papua New Guinea, which received $572.2 million in 2018-19. Australia led other nations as part of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands. Over 7,000 Australian Defence Force members have been deployed in the Solomon Islands as part of that mission. In 2013, the Australian government committed $500 million to assisting the Solomon Islands through the regional assistance mission in the following four years. The mission officially ended on 30 June 2017. In June 2018, the two countries signed an agreement for the sinking of an undersea high speed internet link between the Solomon Islands and the Australian mainland. Though seen as a security issue for Australia, it is believed more than $100 million will come out of Australia's aid budget. References Solomon Islands Bilateral relations of the Solomon Islands