Overview:
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau says Washington remains firmly committed to the Pacific, highlighting security, economic cooperation and partnerships with island nations. Ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit in Palau, Landau outlines the Trump administration’s priorities for the region, including stronger defense ties, private-sector investment, disaster resilience and expanded trade.
The United States is a Pacific nation, and thus strong ties with the Pacific Islands are a top priority for our foreign policy.
On behalf of President Trump and Secretary Rubio, I’ve been honored to lead our diplomatic efforts in this vital part of the world. As Deputy Secretary of State, I’ve traveled to Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Palau, and Papua New Guinea. I’ve also welcomed Pacific leaders to Washington, including a recent visit by Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale. I spend so much time engaging the region because our Pacific partners are important to us.
I’m excited to embark soon on my third trip to the region, where I’ll be representing the United States at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit in Palau, with follow-on stops in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Solomon Islands, and Kiribati. This trip underscores the unwavering U.S. commitment to the Pacific focused on our shared security and economic interests.
As the United States commemorates the 250th anniversary of its independence, we celebrate our shared history and how our nation is enriched by the contributions of Pacific Islanders living in the United States, including those Americans in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. As President Reagan once noted, “it’s not all foreign policy; America is part of the Pacific.”
As we look back to 1776 as a foundation for freedom in America and around the world, we are proud to share this foundation with the peoples of the Pacific Islands, many of whom fought side-by-side with Americans during World War II to defend freedom in places like Guadalcanal, Peleliu, and Tarawa. And we also are proud to share a common foundation of Judeo-Christian beliefs, which underpin strong civil society in our countries. I’ve appreciated that meetings with Pacific leaders often open with a prayer or blessing, and I’ve been privileged to worship alongside local communities during my travels in the region.
I’ve seen in my travels that Pacific Island nations continue to value the strength and mutual respect offered by partnering with the United States. When the United States works with sovereign nations to protect fish stocks, train law enforcement, or build infrastructure, we do so as true partners.
Nowhere is this partnership clearer than through our Compacts of Free Association with Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia, which advance regional security and prosperity. Evolving risks require reexamination of our defense and security ties with the Pacific Islands. Recent submarine-launched ballistic missile tests in the region unfortunately are just the latest example of why we must do so.
Strengthening U.S. commercial ties to support private sector-led growth in the Pacific is an imperative, as is bolstering the region’s disaster resilience. As we do so, we will promote “Trade Over Aid.” A great example of this approach is our work with the private sector and with Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and Taiwan to collectively ensure every single Pacific Island Forum country is connected to a trusted undersea cable network. Another is our reaffirmed commitment to the South Pacific Tuna Treaty, which for nearly four decades has supported jobs and livelihoods for Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Just in the last year, the United States connected Pacific leaders with more than 80 U.S. companies at an investment summit at the East-West Center in Honolulu, signed an Open Skies agreement with Samoa. We also entered into a critical minerals agreement with Cook Islands – now served by its inaugural U.S. Ambassador Jared Novelly – and agreed to a Framework for Strategic Cooperation with Papua New Guinea. And these are just a few examples. As I travel to Palau with an interagency delegation, we look forward to delivering concrete results for the people of the United States and the Pacific Islands on energy supplies, economic development, and regional security.
Strong U.S. ties with the Pacific make our country and the region safer, stronger, and more prosperous. As I prepare for my upcoming journey to the region, I believe our Pacific partners also subscribe to the view I shared at the Honolulu investment summit, that “what differentiates America from the rest of the world—our openness, transparency, trustworthiness, commitment to freedom and innovation, and free market capitalism—will continue to make us the global partner of first choice.”
The United States stands ready, willing, and eager to deepen its partnerships in the Pacific, and I return to the region with a hand of friendship outstretched to deepen our partnerships for the benefit of our peoples.
Christopher Landau is the United States Deputy Secretary of State.