United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, calling Palau a “friend and partner,” congratulated Palau on its 29th Independence Day.
In a statement, Blinken said Palau and the US “share a commitment to a free, open, resilient, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”
Last week, President Joe Biden met Pacific island leaders for a second White House summit, which Blinken said was a show of solidarity and friendship between the two countries.
“ Just a few months ago, we reaffirmed our partnership and expressed our clear intentions to improve Palau’s economic resilience by signing the 2023 U.S.-Palau Compact Review Agreement,” Blinken said,
Blinken also thanked Palau leadership in environmental protection and for the Palauan citizens currently serving in the US Armed Forces.
“We also thank Palau for hosting U.S. military exercises, which further demonstrates our shared commitment to peace and security.”
“The friendship between our nations and the bonds between our people tie the United States and Palau together, and we look forward to a future of peace and prosperity,” Blinken
Palau has requested the U.S. to deploy Patriot air defense systems because the over-the-horizon radar systems in Palau for 2026 may make Palau a more likely target in a conflict,