By: L.N. Reklai
Airai, Palau (Sept. 17, 2025) — “We can’t approve asylum seekers coming to Palau, but the United States asked if we can continue a dialogue,” President Surangel Whipps Jr. said Wednesday, describing discussions with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau during his brief stopover after leaving Papua New Guinea.
The leaders who met at Palau International Airport with President Whipps and his Ministers, included Senate Floor Leader Kerai Mariur, Senator Eldebechel, Senator Inabo, Senator Melairei, Senator Pedro, Vice Speaker Mario Gulibert, Delegate Mengkur, Delegate Umetaro, Delegate Otong, Delegate Gibbons, and members of the Council of Chiefs, Chiefs Nurap Nicholas Aquino, Uongruios Elliot Udui, Ngirturong John Sugiyama, and Uongeretei Mathias Erbai.
Whipps said the discussions also covered veterans’ services, the new hospital, and security matters, including FBI and DEA cooperation. On the asylum issue, he said Landau emphasized that hosting asylum seekers would benefit both Palau and the United States. “If we help the United States, it will be good for them and it will be good for us, and maybe everybody can win,” Whipps recalled.
The Palauan leaders agreed to establish a working group to explore possible avenues for cooperation. “Minister Victor of MAFE needs farmers, and there’s a need for construction workers…these are people that maybe can work. Another way we can help our country,” Whipps said. He added, “We clarified that we don’t approve or agree to any criminals to come to Palau. We have a pristine country. We are worried because we watch other countries with bad conditions, and we don’t want those people here.”
Whipps said Landau assured that the U.S. program is not intended to send criminals or unsafe individuals to Palau. “The reason the U.S. has this program is to show that people in the U.S. who did not follow the law and process to enter the U.S. will know there are laws and processes to follow,” he said.
Earlier, Congress and the Council of Chiefs wrote to President Whipps, stating, “We strongly advise against proceeding further on this matter.” They explained that Palau is too small and lacks the capacity to manage refugees, adding, “We cannot afford to overpromise or commit to something that we cannot fulfill.”
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who recently visited Papua New Guinea for its 50th Independence Day celebrations, reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to regional cooperation.
What was included in the Veteran Services when they spoke