Washington has announced a set of new initiatives designed to substantially expand its presence in the Pacific and deepen engagement with countries in the region.
The action plan, which is widely viewed as forming part of efforts to counter China’s growing influence in the area, was unveiled by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris during a videoconference held with regional leaders gathered at a Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting in Fiji’s capital, Suva.
Under the plan, Washington aims to set up two new embassies – in Kiribati and Tonga – reopen the one in the Solomon Islands and appoint its first-ever envoy to the PIF. The U.S. also announced it intends to triple economic development aid to the region, including funding to combat illegal fishing, enhance maritime security and strengthen climate resilience.