The United States Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, accompanied by Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor, and Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison Erika L. Moritsugu and small delegation arrived in Palau on Sunday, July 23rd, on a week-long tour of the north Pacific island territories and countries.
Secretary Haaland was greeted at the Palau International Airport by Minister of State Gustav Aitaro. While there, she also met with Vice President and Minister of Justice Uduch Sengebau-Senior and had dinner and a meeting with President Surangel Whipps Jr.
The visit reflects the interest and importance the Biden Administration places on these territories and Freely Associated States in the North Pacific.
The visit started off in Saipan, Guam and now Palau. Secretary Haaland and her delegation will head off on the last leg of this trip to attend the inauguration of the new Federated States of Micronesia’s government in Pohnpei, FSM.