Manasseh Sogavare unleashes on Solomon Islands government over US agreement
The US Shiprider Agreement signed by the new-look Solomon Islands government has been subject to fiery criticism in parliament.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale faced sharp criticism from opposition leader Manasseh Sogavare over a new US agreement known as the Shiprider Agreement. The disagreement erupted during a parliamentary debate that discussed the government's foreign policy direction. Sogavare accused the agreement of undermining Solomon Islands' sovereignty and questioned the constitutional validity of its signing.
Wale, however, maintained that the country's sovereignty was intact and that the deal would bolster the nation's standing as a reliable partner. He also highlighted that the agreement would not affect Solomon Islands' primary criminal jurisdiction or diplomatic responsibilities. Sogavare, on the other hand, was concerned about the potential loss of certain powers under the 1991 Status of Forces Agreement with the US, which is still in effect.
He believed that the agreement, which allows the US Coast Guard into Solomon Islands waters, had been signed without proper parliamentary oversight or transparency. Wale dismissed these concerns, stating that the agreement would not compromise the nation's sovereignty.
Written by urgent.news from RNZ Pacific's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
