Solomon Islands PM asserts decline of US hegemony in Pacific

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Dec 2023 09:46
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Ahead of the general elections, the Solomon Islands PM says Western entities should recognize that their era of meddling and deceiving the people of the country is coming to an end.

Manasseh Sogavare, Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, addresses the 78th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City on September 22, 2023 (AFP)

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has accused "agents of Western powers" and undisclosed adversaries of attempting to undermine his government.

Sogavare delivered an impassioned opening appeal to voters on Wednesday, stating in parliament that his nation was embroiled in a "geopolitical war".

It is worth noting that the general elections are scheduled to take place in the Solomon Islands by April 2024 to decide the makeup of the 12th Parliament, yet no specific date has yet been set.

Accusing the United States of harboring a "geopolitical superiority complex," Sogavare asserted the decline of US dominance in the Pacific.

"We must wake up. Those days are over," he said while highlighting Chinese investments as a way to reduce his country's reliance on foreign aid.

The Solomon Islands' economy has faced challenges from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, inflation, and increasing commodity prices. According to the 2023 International Monetary Fund forecasts, it is experiencing an annual budget deficit exceeding six percent of GDP.

The big picture

Since assuming office, Sogavare has terminated relations with Taiwan and officially established ties with Beijing. In the previous year, he had entered into a security agreement with China, raising concerns from the United States and Australia about Beijing gaining influence in its own backyard.

Detractors have alleged corruption against Sogavare and his party, asserting that they leverage political and economic backing from China to maintain control. Sogavare rejected these accusations on Wednesday, dismissing them as "fabricated lies" orchestrated by "agents of Western powers," asserting that these entities should recognize that their era of meddling and deceiving the people of the country is coming to an end.

"I have to go down in the history of this country as the most hated prime minister, the most sworn at, and most falsely accused," he said.

"I am willing to go to prison if I am proven to commit any wrongs against the law; I'm surprised at how low people can go in their hate campaign against the partnership that the Solomon Islands forged with the great country of the People's Republic of China," he added.

A prevalent trend in contemporary geopolitics involves an increasing number of countries diverging from alignment with the United States. The case of the Solomon Islands, a small nation in the Pacific Islands region, stands out as a particularly insightful example. The United States has expressed concern about the deepening partnerships between nations in the Global South and China, exemplified by the situation in the Solomon Islands.