United States: Mr. Joe Biden, the United States President, is set to open new embassies on the Cook Islands and Niue as part of defending Chinese inroads into the South Pacific. The announcement about the new diplomatic missions came as the US President prepared to welcome Pacific Island leaders to Washington, DC, for a two-day US-Pacific Island Forum Summit.
Mr. Biden has put a premium on improving relations in the Pacific since US concerns about China’s growing military and economic influence. Two senior administration officials confirmed the plans for the embassies, and they briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity before the formal announcement.
White House Press Secretary Ms. Karine Jean-Pierre commented that Mr. Biden would use the summit to strengthen “ties with the Pacific Islands and discuss how we address complex global challenges, like tackling the existential threat of climate change, advancing economic growth, and promoting sustainable development.”
At last year’s summit, the White House unveiled its Pacific strategy, which included assisting the region’s leaders on pressing issues like climate change, maritime security, and protecting the region from overfishing. It pledged the US would add $810 million in new aid for Pacific Island nations over the next decade, including $130 million on efforts to stymie the impacts of climate change.
Ms. Meg Keen, director of Pacific Island Programs at Australia’s Lowy Institute, noted that the US had opened new embassies and USAID offices in the region since last year’s summit, and Congress had yet to approve the funds. Ms. Keen added that Pacific island countries “welcome the US re-engagement with the region but don’t want geopolitical tussles to result in an escalation of militarization.”
The Pacific Island Forum includes Australia, the Cook Islands, Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
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