Solomon Islands Opposition Independent Group has clarified that its concerns regarding the Solomon Islands–United States Ship Rider Agreement are focused on parliamentary oversight and governance principles, rather than questioning the legal validity or operational benefits of the agreement.
The group welcomed the contributions of legal and policy experts Dr Transform Aqorau and Dr Joseph Foukona, saying their views had enriched the national discussion on the maritime cooperation arrangement.
In a statement, the Independent Group said its earlier position was not directed at the effectiveness of the Ship Rider Agreement itself, but rather the broader issue of how international treaties and agreements are considered and approved.
The group highlighted Prime Minister Matthew Wale’s public commitment that international agreements should be tabled before Parliament for scrutiny.
It said the commitment, made after the Prime Minister’s official visits to Australia and New Zealand, represented a shift from previous practices where treaty negotiations and signings were largely handled by the Executive without parliamentary oversight.
“The Independent Group welcomes and fully supports this commitment by Prime Minister Wale,” the statement said.
The group said greater parliamentary involvement would support transparency, accountability and democratic governance, adding that Parliament must have its constitutional role in reviewing agreements with legal, financial or strategic implications for Solomon Islands.
The Independent Group also raised questions over the United States’ status outside the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), noting that while Washington recognises many UNCLOS provisions as customary international law, its non-party status warranted parliamentary consideration in agreements involving maritime jurisdiction and law enforcement cooperation.
The group further said Parliament should examine how bilateral maritime agreements align with existing regional frameworks, including the Niue Treaty and related cooperative mechanisms.
It said Solomon Islands had invested heavily in regional maritime surveillance and fisheries enforcement, and future agreements should strengthen rather than duplicate or undermine those efforts.
The Independent Group said if Ship Rider Agreements were considered effective tools to address illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, transnational crime, human trafficking and drug trafficking, the Government should also consider similar arrangements with other trusted partners where they served the national interest.
The group said Dr Aqorau’s contribution had opened a wider policy discussion, including whether a similar maritime cooperation arrangement with the People’s Republic of China could complement existing partnerships and enhance Solomon Islands’ ability to monitor and protect its vast exclusive economic zone.
The Independent Group reaffirmed its support for an independent foreign policy based on national interest, respect for international law, regional cooperation and ensuring Parliament maintains its oversight role on matters of national importance.
