Solomon Islands drops ship ban ahead of Sogavare visit

Australian warships have been exempted from a temporary ban on foreign naval vessels entering Solomon Islands waters, ahead of a visit by the country’s Prime Minister.

Anthony Albanese with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Fiji in July. Picture: AFP

Australian warships have been exempted from a temporary ban on foreign naval vessels entering Solomon Islands waters, ahead of a visit by the country’s Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to Australia at the invitation of ­Anthony Albanese.

Mr Sogavare’s office told The Australian last week that the ban applied to all naval vessels including those of Australia.

But he relented on Monday, telling parliament that Australian, New Zealand and Fijian military vessels deployed as part of the Solomon Islands International Assistance Force would be allowed to dock at the island ­nation’s ports.

Foreign military vessels responding to distress calls would also be exempt, he added.

The concession follows confirmation by the Prime Minister that he will host Mr Sogavare at the Lodge in coming weeks.

The Solomons’ Prime Minister said the moratorium was originally put in place to allow a review of “the benefits and risks to Solomon Islands of any visits by any military vessels”, and was not aimed specifically at the US. He said a number of nations had become involved in patrols targeting illegal fishing and his office needed to know more about the vessels arriving.

“We don’t know who the hell is coming,” he said.

The move comes as Mr Sogavare prepares to move a constitutional amendment later this week to extend his term by at least eight months.

The proposed amendment is due to be debated in parliament on Thursday, amid fears by Australian officials that the vote could spark fresh civil unrest.

Australian Defence Force and Australian Federal Police personnel are on the ground in Honiara, but there are concerns Mr Sogavare could turn to China for support in the event of rioting, following his controversial security agreement with Beijing.

Mr Sogavare hosted an official welcome for a US navy hospital ship last week, despite his refusal of permission to dock for a US Coast Guard ship.

The USNS Mercy is providing free medical consultations in the country, arriving in Honiara on the same day as Mr ­Sogavare declared a moratorium on foreign naval ­visits.

Mr Sogavare assured Mr Albanese at the recent Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji that, despite his controversial security pact with China, Australia remained Solomon Islands’ security “partner of choice”.