The United States will host its second summit with Pacific Island nation leaders this week. The US will announce diplomatic recognition of two Pacific islands, promise new funding for infrastructure, including improving internet connectivity through undersea cables, and pay respects to regional leaders at an NFL game.
According to Reuters, on Sunday (September 24, 2023), at last year’s summit with 14 Pacific Island nations, the administration of US President Joe Biden pledged to assist the island nations in resisting China’s ‘economic coercion’ and declared a commitment to strengthen partnerships.
Meanwhile, the White House said this year’s efforts would focus on priorities including climate change, economic growth, sustainable development, public health, and combating illegal fishing.
The United States will also officially recognize the Cook Islands and another small nation, Niue, for the first time during the summit.
An official in Baltimore stated that the leaders would visit Coast Guard vessels in the harbor and be briefed on the efforts to combat illegal fishing by the Coast Guard Commander.
In the meantime, the leaders will also attend the Sunday football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts. Several NFL players are of Pacific Islander descent.
Solomon Islands Absent
One of the Pacific Island nations absent from the meeting is the Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, who has deepened his country’s ties with China, will miss the summit. A senior Biden administration official said the US is ‘disappointed’ by Sogavare’s decision.
