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U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell (left) and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Barron Waqa in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. August 28, 2024
photo: Pacific Islands Forum
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the United States is “listening carefully” to the opinions of these countries as it expands its diplomatic influence in Pacific island nations.
Campbell, who is attending the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Nuku’alofa, told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday that Washington is rolling out initiatives across the board, including climate change resilience, illegal fishing, education, technology and connectivity.
He also announced that the United States had donated a total of $25 million to the organization. Pacific Restoration Fund – A fund approved by leaders to make climate finance more accessible to Forum members for adaptation, disaster preparedness and early disaster response projects.
“Our progress in the Pacific has been phenomenal,” he said, adding, “it’s an exciting time”.
“We believe we have listened carefully to the Pacific Islands Forum and individual country leadership and we are trying to direct our contributions based on what they are telling us.”
The United States is one of more than 20 dialogue partners of the Pacific Islands Forum, and other dialogue partners include China, the European Union, France and the United Kingdom.
Since 2021, the United States has hosted two Pacific Islands Forum summits at the White House, opened embassies in the Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu, released the first “U.S.-Pacific Partnership Strategy”, and announced that it would provide more than $8 billion in new funds to Pacific island countries.
It also recognized the Cook Islands and Niue as sovereign and independent nations and established diplomatic relations with them; expanded USAID offices in Papua New Guinea and Fiji; sent the Peace Corps back to Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu; and increased the availability of U.S. consular services to facilitate travel.
Campbell said the United States is seeking to build partnerships and cooperation with unprecedented countries, including traditional partners such as Australia and New Zealand, as well as newer partners such as Japan, South Korea, India and the United Kingdom.
He said the United States wants the Pacific Islands Forum to become stronger.
“We believe that institutionalization of the Pacific at a regional level is extremely important. We are investing resources, time and energy into those efforts,” he added.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell (third from left) attends a media briefing in Tonga, Wednesday, August 28, 2024.
photo: Pacific Islands Forum
Campbell said all U.S. actions in the region “are consultative,” and stressed that “engagement should be transparent.”
He said Washington welcomed the support of any country, including Beijing, committed to improving the living standards and well-being of Pacific people.
However, he expressed concerns about China’s “power projection”.
“We do have concerns about China’s support for undemocratic forces in certain regions, we see abuses in fishing, and we have concerns about the potential for China to project military capabilities into peaceful areas,” he said.
He further added that the United States attaches great importance to human rights issues and the role of democracy.
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