It’s the relationships, stupid. Credit: Cleo Paskal By Cleo Paskal There is currently an active debate about U.S. policy in the Pacific Islands. Some are saying the U.S. is AWOL in the region. Others have said this is one of the most active times for U.S. engagement, including the Heritage Foundation, which just published a […]
Tag: China Pacific influence
Posted inIn Focus
Foreign influence could quietly weaken Pacific unity, expert warn
WELLINGTON, 17 AUGUST 2026 (PMN)–Pacific countries may need to look beyond the obvious signs of foreign interference with an international law expert warning that the bigger threat could be the slow erosion of regional unity. Al Gillespie says foreign interference does not always look like espionage or the theft of sensitive information. He says it […]
Posted inPacific News
U.S envoy says Cook Islands minerals are a top priority
WELLINGTON, 06 JULY2026 (REUTERS)— The new U.S Ambassador to New Zealand and several Pacific Island nations said on Friday that securing Cook Islands seabed minerals was a top priority, and that China’s push for influence in the Pacific carried risks for small island states. Jared Novelly, U.S Ambassador to New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue […]
Posted inIn Focus
Pacific security agreements: lessons from the Iran–U.S–Israel conflict
By Bal Kama CANBERRA, 19 MARCH 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG) — The escalating conflict involving Iran, the United States (U.S) and Israel might seem distant from the Pacific, yet its strategic implications reach deep into the region. When Iran retaliated, it didn’t just strike Israel or U.S warships. It struck ten other countries in the region such […]
Posted inPacific News
U.S warns China targeting Pacific democracies as COFA ties deepen
SAIPAN, 20 JANUARY 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — Warnings that Beijing is actively targeting Pacific democracies have intensified in the United States. As Washington renews its strategic compact ties with three Micronesian nations, there is growing concern over China’s political, economic, and security footprint across the region. Pacific security analyst Robert Underwood, chairman of the Pacific […]