Climate finance and regional security will dominate discussions when the Australian prime minister touches down in the Solomon Islands for major talks with Pacific leaders.

Anthony Albanese skipped the first full day of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum in Honiara opting for a detour to Vanuatu where a keenly-anticipated security pact failed to materialise.

Australia has been stumping up big sums to bolster ties with its Pacific neighbours and affirm its position as a security partner of choice on the backdrop of intense geopolitical competition with China.

The federal government is expected to tip about $500 million into security, economic and development programs in Vanuatu and while no deal was finalised, Mr Albanese reported "good progress" towards the Nakamal agreement and was confide

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