Overview:
The Angaur State Legislature has raised concerns that the U.S. military’s Tactical Mobile Over-the-Horizon Radar (TACMOR) project is taking a heavy toll on the island’s infrastructure without providing benefits to the local community. In a letter to State Minister Gustav Aitaro, Angaur officials cited road damage, resource depletion, and unequal treatment compared to neighboring Peleliu, calling for compensation or development assistance.
By: Bernadette Carreon
The Angaur State Legislature has said that the U.S. military radar installation is destroying the island’s infrastructure without providing any benefits to the local community.
In a letter dated September 29, 2025, to State Minister Gustav Aitaro, Angaur officials detailed how the Tactical Mobile Radar (TACMOR) project has damaged roads, depleted natural resources, and worn down ports—all while offering nothing in return to island residents.
“Our ports (sea and air), minerals (water, gravel), and roads are being utilized without benefits to our island and its people,” the letter states. Officials included photos showing road damage allegedly caused by heavy project vehicles.
Angaur legislators pointed to neighboring Peleliu, which has reportedly received infrastructure assistance in connection with U.S. military activities. According to the letter, this difference in treatment has created “a sense of indignation” among Angaur residents.
The company executing the project, UXELL, has not taken steps to maintain or repair local infrastructure despite heavy use of state resources, officials said.
The US Department of Defense awarded a U.S.$120 million contract in late 2022 for the construction of reinforced foundations and pads in Palau for “Tactical Mobile Over-the-Horizon Radar,” or TACMOR equipment, which provides a greater range than line-of-sight radar.
The radar project has two sites – for a transmitter and receiver – one in Angaur Island in the south of Palau and the other in Ngaraard in the north of the archipelago.
While emphasizing their pride in Palau’s relationship with the United States, Angaur officials noted the island’s historical significance. Former Palauan President Lazarus Salii, an Angaur native known as the “Father of the Compact,” was instrumental in negotiating the U.S.-Palau Compact of Free Association.
The legislature is now calling on the national government to ensure Angaur receives appropriate compensation or infrastructure improvements to offset the project’s impact.
As of press time, it is not known whether Minister Aitaro has responded to Angaur officials