diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index d20cb70..9a15052 100644
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -1349,8 +1349,8 @@ async function loadSovereigntyStatus() {
     const assessmentType = data.assessment_type || 'MANUAL';
     meterSpriteMat.map = buildMeterTexture(score, label, assessmentType);
     meterSpriteMat.needsUpdate = true;
-  } catch {
-    // defaults already set above
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error('[Nexus] sovereignty-status.json missing or invalid — sovereignty meter using hardcoded defaults:', err);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/sovereignty-status.json b/sovereignty-status.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e10ced4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sovereignty-status.json
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+{
+  "score": 85,
+  "label": "Mostly Sovereign",
+  "assessment_type": "MANUAL",
+  "notes": "Manual assessment. Update this file to reflect current sovereignty score."
+}