Ambassador reveals the US’s commitment to Solomons, listing few ongoing US-supported programmes in the country
BY MORRIS NAFU
The United States has said it is committed to a more broad and expansive partnership with the Solomon Islands.
This was revealed to Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele by US Ambassador Ann Marie Yastishock during their meeting last week.
What this means remains unclear.
However, a media statement from the Prime Minister’s press secretariat last week following the meeting said Mr Manele listed US-supported ongoing programmes in the country which include the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the UXO programmes, health and humanitarian services.
The statement also said Ambassador Yastishock told PM Manele of the Trump administration’s plans to nominate a resident ambassador for the Solomon Islands.
The person ear-marked for the job “could not make it through the selection process”, the statement said.
At the meeting’s outset, Manele expressed Solomon Islands’ appreciation for the longstanding relationship with the United States, acknowledging the invaluable support received over the years.
He highlighted significant USAID programmes such as the MCC, UXO programmes, and health and humanitarian services.
Manele welcomed the possibility of increased focus on transformative projects, particularly in infrastructure and renewable energy.
He emphasised that such initiatives would drive economic growth and prosperity across the nation.
Manele reiterated Solomon Islands’ openness to continuing its development partnership with the US, stressing the importance of transparent and collaborative relations.
He reassured Yastishock that Solomon Islands remains vigilant and guided by its national security strategy, particularly in light of evolving global and regional security dynamics.
The Solomon Islands government continues to prioritise the protection of its sovereignty, addressing both internal and external security threats, while adhering to its foreign policy of being “friends to all and enemies to none”, the statement said.
He explained the government’s national security focus includes areas critical to the well-being of its people, such as climate change, food, water, and health security.
Manele stressed that Solomon Islands is committed to addressing these challenges through development and economic growth initiatives.
Yastishock meanwhile noted that various USAID programmes in the country have been successful, the statement said.
The Strengthening Competitiveness, Agribusiness, Livelihoods and Environment (SCALE) is a $25 million programme designed to unlock economic opportunity and increase trade over the long-run; improve natural resource management, including forest governance; promote agribusiness and small enterprise development; and expand critical small-scale infrastructure. The five-year programme ends this year.
The other is the US MCC Fund Threshold Programme Grant Agreement. The USD $20 million programme has helped reduce poverty and increase economic growth by supporting government efforts to manage natural resources and increase tourism investment.
However, PM Manele shared that Solomon Islands is concerned the escalating global conflicts might overshadow critical issues such as climate change, ocean sustainability, and sustainable development that are vital to Solomon Islands and the Pacific.
The Prime Minister and Her Excellency Yastishock also discussed the ongoing challenges posed by unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Solomon Islands which continues to hinder development and cause loss of innocent lives.
Potential markets for exports and bilateral scholarships were also discussed.
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