US to sign strategic pacts with 2 Pacific states, hopes for third in weeks

A US presidential envoy said the Palau agreement would be signed in Papua New Guinea on Monday, while the Micronesia pact would be signed on Tuesday

Yun initialled the agreements – part of US efforts to shore up support among Pacific island states to counter competition from China – last week

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US Special Representative for North Korea Policy Joseph Yun, Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:23am, 21 May 2023Updated: 1:25pm, 21 May 2023

The United States will sign new strategic pacts with the Pacific island states of Palau and Micronesia early next week and hopes to do so with the Marshall Islands in coming weeks, the US presidential envoy negotiating the deals said.

Joseph Yun told Reuters the Palau agreement would be formally signed in the presence of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Palau President Surangel Whipps Jnr in Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Monday, while the Micronesia pact would be signed on Tuesday in Micronesia.

Yun initialled the agreements, part of US efforts to shore up support among Pacific island states to counter competition from China, during visits to Micronesia and Palau in the past week. As anticipated, he was unable to conclude the deal with the Marshall Islands.

Palau President Surangel Whipps Jnr in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday. Photo: AP

“We have made progress over my three-day visit to Marshall Islands and we hope to sign an agreement with the Marshall Islands in the coming weeks,” he said.

Washington first reached what are known as Compact of Free Association (COFA) accords with the three island states in the 1980s, under which it retains responsibility for their defence and provides economic help while gaining exclusive access to huge strategic swathes of the Pacific in return.

Renewing them has become a key part of US efforts to push back against China’s bid to expand its influence in the Pacific. Chinese diplomats have been courting the region and China’s construction and mining companies have expanded their business in many Pacific island nations.

US President Joe Biden had been expected to attend the signing ceremonies in Port Moresby, but on Tuesday called off what was to have been a brief stopover there due to the US debt-ceiling crisis.

Blinken will take his place and also sign bilateral defence and maritime security agreements with PNG and meet leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum. Biden’s national security adviser said on Wednesday the president would arrange another summit of Pacific island leaders this year after the disappointment caused by his cancellation.