Military Bases, Money, and the Soul of Palau

Dear Editor,

Military Bases, Money, and the Soul of Palau

As Palau enters 2026, the debate over military bases and foreign aid grows louder. Our leaders continue to sign agreements that bring money into the country, but at what cost? Each deal — whether for roads, deportees, or airports — becomes a test of whether our leaders serve the people or external powers.

Why These Issues Matter? It’s about Sovereignty vs. Aid: Palau’s leaders must balance immediate financial relief with long-term independence. Aid tied to concessions risks turning our sovereignty into a bargaining chip, with our people demanding accountability, especially on higher costs, drugs and governance. They see clearly that decisions made today will shape their future. So, the image is clear, every agreement carries symbolic weight. A road, an airport, or a military base is not just infrastructure — it is a statement of who we are and who we serve.

The Peleliu airport and Kambek debate reflects this broader challenge. Just as with the Compact Road, the airport and dock risks becoming a symbol of aid tied to concessions. Money for Peleliu strengthens U.S.–Palau ties, but it also stirs debate. It offers development opportunities yet risks repeating the cycle where aid is leveraged for strategic concessions. Leaders must ensure that projects serve the people first, not external powers.

For a self-professed Christian nation, we seem to forget the Bible’s warning: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10, NIV). Our leaders are chasing money, forgetting responsibility and relationships. Aid becomes bait, and sovereignty is the hook. Sun Tzu’s Art of War reminds us: “All warfare is based on deception.” Nations appear weak when strong, chaotic when organized, to create opportunities. “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” This is what the U.S. and others are doing to Palau. They show us money, and our leaders forget their responsibilities. They forget that every dollar comes with strings, every concession with consequences.

We sell our airports, our docks, our lands for scraps from the table of global security. We pretend to be big dogs, but in reality, we are little Chihuahuas trying to be Great Danes. As Mr. Carlos Salii asked the U.S.: Who is Palau’s enemy that we need protection from you? The answer is clear. We did nothing, but because we are friends with the U.S., we become targets — the first line of defense against China or any other so-called enemy.

This chaos is not ours. It was imported. It is created by leaders who think they are smarter than the people, who act without listening to Congress or Rubekul Belau, who chase money and connections while forgetting the sacred trust of this land.

When will we stop selling our souls to the devil for a cheap price? When will we remember that honor, dignity, and sovereignty are worth more than aid packages? Palau will endure, but our leaders must be reminded: sovereignty is not for sale. The Silent Majority will continue to speak, to remind them that their duty is not to foreign powers, not to corporations, but to The People. Always the People.

.

Your Humble Servant

Dudalm Kelulau