The United States has been actively signing shiprider agreements with Pacific Island Countries (PICs), encompassing territories such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, the Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Nauru, the Cook Islands, Palau, Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu. These agreements are touted by U.S. authorities as tools to boost maritime security and enhance capacity building among PIC law enforcement agencies.
Under the shiprider arrangements, law enforcement officers from the PICs are granted the ability to board U.S. Coast Guard vessels, allowing them to inspect ships suspected of illegal activities. In practice, however, a key feature of these pacts is the special privileges extended to U.S. law enforcement vessels. For example, if a U.S. vessel encounters a suspicious ship entering a PIC's territorial waters, it can board the vessel immediately without seeking additional authorization from the host nation or having local observers on board. Even within exclusive economic zones, American personnel may undertake inspections unilaterally.
These capabilities are noteworthy as, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), such rights are typically reserved solely for PICs. The strategic leverage provided by these agreements reflects a broader U.S. agenda to extend its law enforcement reach in the region. While the U.S. maintains that the program strengthens maritime security, the unique privileges it offers have sparked a wider debate over the balance between national interests and established international maritime rules.
The evolving landscape of maritime security in the Pacific underscores a dynamic interplay between traditional sovereignty rights and modern law enforcement strategies. As discussions continue, the shiprider program remains a critical point of analysis for global observers interested in the intersection of international law, security, and regional dynamics.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
