KOROR, Palau – U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro visited Palau from Feb. 29 to March 1 to engage in discussions aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations.
During the visit, Del Toro met with Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. and U.S. Ambassador Joel Ehrendreich. The discussions focused on fostering the growing relationship and reaffirming the U.S. commitment to regional security in the Indo-Pacific.
““President Whipps has been a marvelous reflection of all the people of Palau and a persistent supporter of the U.S.-Palau relationship, which directly supports a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” said Secretary Del Toro. “I can assure you that the United States remains committed to Palau’s national security, and I remain one of Palau’s strongest advocates in Washington, to include with Congress.”
Del Toro expressed gratitude to President Whipps for supporting U.S. Navy Seabee and Marine Corps engineering projects in Palau, including a runway improvement project undertaken by the 7th Engineer Support Battalion (ESB) on Peleliu. He visited the project site and paid his respects at the Orange Beach war memorial in Peleliu, where the first U.S. troops landed during the pivotal World War II Battle of Peleliu, the 80th anniversary of which will be commemorated in September.
“Secretary Del Toro’s visit affirms the longstanding friendship and ironclad partnership between the United States and Palau, which includes the efforts of Palauans serving in the U.S. Navy for decades and still to this day. Now – more than ever – the cooperation between our two countries is contributing to the stability of the region,” said Ambassador Ehrendreich.
Del Toro’s visit to Palau forms part of a broader strategic engagement series across the Indo-Pacific region, promoting the protection of the maritime commons in line with his Maritime Statecraft initiative.
The Palau visit marked the third leg of Del Toro’s Indo-Pacific trip, following stops in the Republic of Korea and Japan. This trip serves as a key component of the secretary’s Maritime Statecraft efforts aimed at revitalizing America’s comprehensive maritime capabilities. Aligned with the Pentagon’s National Defense Industrial Strategy, this whole-of-government initiative seeks to leverage venture capital and innovative ideas to bolster the U.S. industrial base.