U.S. announces first Pacific Partnership Strategy and $810 million
PM Fiame with world leaders at the U.S - Pacific Island Country Summit in Washington D.C
Photo : Reuters
President of the United States Joe Biden Jr. announced the Pacific Partnership Strategy and $810 million for the region when he addressed the first U.S.-Pacific Island Country Summit in Washington D.C. today.
The summit is an “historic” meeting which the U.S. has been looking forward to “for a long time,” Biden told the gathering of Pacific leaders, among them Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa.
He reiterated the United States’ commitment to tackling the climate crisis and deepening its ties with Pacific nations.
Security in the Pacific and for the Pacific Islanders remains as critical as ever to us and I hope to you as well. To secure — the security of America, quite frankly, and the world depends on your security and the security of the Pacific Islands. And I really mean that,” said President Biden.
“So, this summit is also about deepening our enduring commitment to each other and our shared future; our commitment to tackling the climate crisis, which threatens all of us. We’re seeing the consequences of climate change around the world very vividly, including in the United States right now. And — and I know your nations feel it acutely. And for you all, it’s an existential threat. It’s an existential threat.”
The $810 million will fund expansion of U.S. programmes aimed at improving the lives of Pacific islanders with $130 million earmarked for new investments to support climate resilience and build the economies of the Pacific islands, he said.
Funds will go toward climate impact preparations on public health and food security, strengthening sustainable development and to build a better early warning capacity to predict, prepare and respond to climate hazards.
Currently, there are $375 million in climate programmes in the Pacific region, the President added.
“We’re also announcing more than $810 million in expanded U.S. programs to improve the lives of Pacific Islanders, which includes more than $130 million in new investments to support climate resilience and to build sustainable blue economies in the Pacific Islands; prepare for climate impacts on public health and food security, and to strengthen sustainable development; and also to build a better early warning capacity to predict, prepare for, and respond to climate hazards. This is going to build on approximately $375 million in climate programs we currently have in the region,” President Biden said.
The U.S. is also taking what he called “important diplomatic steps” in the Pacific such as recognizing Cook Islands and Niue and sovereign nations and concluding negotiations with its three closest partners in the region: the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
“We’re also taking several important diplomatic steps. And I’m proud to announce that, following appropriate consultations, we will recognize the Cook Islands and Niue as sovereign states. And we look forward to successfully concluding negotiations for a Compact of Free Association with three of our closest partners in the region — the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau,” President Biden said.
“The U.S. is committed to consulting with all of you and engaging collaboratively at every turn, because it’s very much in our interest as well as, I hope, yours. That’s what this summit is all about.”
He thanked Pacific leaders for their presence, saying “we’ve been looking forward to this for a long time and that it is “wonderful to welcome you all for the first time together, leaders of the Pacific Islands, in Washington.”
President Biden also addressed Russia and the war in Ukraine.
He said the U.S. is committed to “working together to equitably rebuild the global economy in the wake of COVID-19 and Russia’s war” in order “to ensure an Indo-Pacific region that’s free and open, one that is stable and prosperous, and resilient and secure.”
The U.S. has made it a priority to strengthen its partnerships with the countries of the Pacific and the Pacific Islands Forum, said the U.S. President.
“A great deal of the history of our world is going to be written in the Indo-Pacific over the coming years and decades. And the Pacific Islands are a critical voice in shaping that future. And that’s why my administration has made it a priority to strengthen our partnership with your countries and with the Pacific Islands Forum,” said Biden.
“I was honored to be the first U.S. President to address the forum last year. And Vice President Harris shared our vision for cooperation with the Pacific Islands Forum at — at your leaders meeting. This year, we also launched the Partners in the Blue Pacific initiative — kind of poetic, isn’t it? — the Partners in the Blue Pacific — but it’s an initiative we really care about — to more effectively coordinate with our allies and partners around the world to better meet the needs of the people across the Pacific.”
He announced the launching of the all new Pacific Partnership Strategy, the first U.S. strategy for Pacific islands.
“That’s why this historic summit — at this historic summit we’re making additional and concrete commitments. And we’re launching our Pacific Partnership Strategy, the first national U.S. strategy for Pacific Islands, which is a key component to our broader Indo-Pac- — Indo-Pacific strategy,” said President Biden.
He denounced the war in Ukraine waged by Russia and calling it “shameless and transparent.”
“And with your permission, I’d also like to briefly address the shameless and transparent effort by Russia to annex parts of its neighbor, Ukraine. The United States — I want to be very clear about this: The United States will never, never, never recognize Russia’s claims on Ukraine sovereign territory,” said President Biden.
“This so-called referenda was a sham — an absolute sham — and the results were manufactured in Moscow. And the — the true will of the Ukrainian people is evident every day as they sacrifice their lives to save their people and maintain the independence of their country and in defense of freedom as well.”
Russia’s “flagrant” assault on Ukraine is a violation of the United Nations Charter, he said, and thanked Pacific leaders for their strong moral leadership at the U.N.
“Russia’s assault on Ukraine in pursuit of Putin’s imperial ambitions is a flagrant — a flagrant violation of the U.N. Charter and the basic principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said President Biden.
“I’m grateful to the Pacific Island leaders for standing up for these basic principles and for your strong, moral leadership on global issues at the United Nations.”
The summit “honors the deep history that our nations share and a longstanding trade and diplomatic relationships, and a — and a shared fight to defend freedom,” said President Biden.
“And the sacrifices we made together, the partnerships between our — among our peoples helped bring an end to the bloody war in the Pacific during World War Two. And recently, we honored the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal at a memorial in the Solomon Islands.”
President Biden hosts dinner for leaders of the Pacific at the White House tonight.