WASHINGTON>> President Joe Biden reassured leaders from the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum about his administration’s commitment to addressing climate change and supporting their region. This comes as Pacific islands leaders gathered in Washington for a two-day summit, expressing their dissatisfaction with the lack of action from wealthy nations and the exploitation of vulnerable nations through loans.
At the start of the summit, Biden announced his administration’s request for $200 million in new assistance for the region, including funding for climate and natural hazard preparedness and infrastructure improvements. Biden emphasized the importance of strengthening Pacific ties amidst growing concerns about China’s influence.
“I want you to know I hear you, the people in the United States and around the world hear you,” Biden said to the leaders. “We hear your warnings of a rising sea and the existential threat it poses to your nations. We hear your calls for reassurance that you will not lose your statehood or membership in the UN due to a climate crisis. Today, the United States is making it clear that this is our position as well.”
As part of the summit, the U.S. officially established diplomatic relations with the Cook Islands and Niue, two South Pacific nations. Secretary of State Antony Blinken participated in separate signing ceremonies to commemorate the elevated relations.
“Today, we celebrate shared history, common values, and people-to-people ties between our two nations,” said Niue Premier Dalton Tagelagi. “We have been looking forward to this day.”
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown welcomed the strengthened U.S.-Pacific islands partnership and highlighted its potential in helping the region achieve its goals.
“These milestones celebrate areas of change and demonstrate that with unshakable resolve and leadership, remarkable achievements are possible,” Brown said.
The Pacific Islands Forum includes Australia, the Cook Islands, Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
Kiribati signed a $29.1 million partnership with the U.S.-backed Millennium Corporation Challenge, which will provide assistance to the island country in dealing with low-lying atolls and workforce development.
During their visit, some leaders attended an NFL game in Baltimore and visited a U.S. Coast Guard cutter for a briefing on combating illegal fishing and maritime issues. Biden announced plans to deploy a U.S. Coast Guard vessel to collaborate and train with Pacific islands nations later this year.
Last year, at the previous summit, the White House unveiled its Pacific strategy, outlining its plans to assist the region’s leaders in addressing climate change, maritime security, and overfishing. The administration pledged $810 million in new aid for Pacific islands nations over the next decade, with $130 million dedicated to mitigating the impacts of climate change.
The leaders also held closed-door talks with John Kerry, Biden’s special envoy on climate, and attended a dinner hosted by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.N. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. On Tuesday, Kerry and Samantha Power, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, will lead climate talks with members of the philanthropic community. The leaders also plan to meet with members of Congress, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will host a roundtable with the leaders and members of the business community.
Last month, Samantha Power traveled to Fiji to inaugurate a new USAID mission that will oversee agency programs in nine Pacific islands countries. The U.S. has recently opened embassies in Solomon Islands and Tonga, and is on track to open one in Vanuatu early next year.
Earlier this year, Biden had to cancel a planned visit to the Indo-Pacific, including a historic stop in Papua New Guinea and a gathering with Quad partnership leaders in Australia, due to debt limit discussions in Washington. However, he is scheduled to host Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for a state visit next month.
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