By: Bernadette Carreon
President Surangel Whipps Jr. said that Donald Trump’s win will not deter Pacific leaders from advocating for global climate action.
In an interview with ABC News Australia, Whipps, who has just been re-elected after defeating former President Tommy Remengesau Jr., said that the climate crisis will remain a key issue for the Pacific region under Trump’s administration.
“I think that’s one of the areas where we, as Pacific nations, need to unite and communicate with the United States, especially President Trump, to share our concerns,” Whipps said.
Pacific Island nations prioritize the climate crisis but worry that President-elect Trump may cut funding for climate programs in the region.
Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election has raised concerns regarding Washington’s engagement with the Pacific.
However, Whipps expressed confidence that relations between the Pacific and the U.S. will not only continue but also advance regional security under Trump’s administration.
“I believe that Republicans, who are more focused on security and defense, understand the importance of Palau and its role in that context,” Whipps said in the ABC News Australia interview.
He also acknowledged that the Biden administration has strengthened the U.S.-Pacific Islands partnership during his term.
“What we’ve seen under the Biden Administration is the Democrats recognizing its importance,” he added.
Whipps asserted that the U.S. needs to elevate its engagement with Palau and the Pacific region more than ever.
“I think now, more than ever, there is bipartisan support from both parties, recognizing the significance of building a strong relationship and collaborating to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he stated.
Whipps has yet to congratulate Trump, but the Prime Ministers of Tonga and Fiji have sent their congratulations.
Trump, 78, returned to the White House on Wednesday by securing more than the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency.
Tonga’s Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, asserted on X (formerly Twitter) his commitment to strengthening the Tonga-U.S. relationship and promoting the interests of the Pacific.
Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said he hopes that Trump’s return to the White House “will be marked by the delivery of peace, unity, progress, and prosperity for all Americans and the community of nations.”
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape also congratulated Trump, stating, “We look forward to reinforcing the longstanding partnership between our nations, grounded in shared values and mutual respect.”
Marape also expressed gratitude for outgoing President Joe Biden’s service and praised Kamala Harris’s “spirited challenge”