The United States has pledged to deepen its security, economic and trade relationships with Pacific Island countries as senior US officials prepare to attend the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit in Palau.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the Pacific remained a major foreign policy priority for Washington, describing the United States as a Pacific nation with longstanding political, economic and security ties to the region.
Landau is expected to represent the United States at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit in Palau before travelling to the Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands and Kiribati.
In a statement issued on 31 August, Landau said the visit would demonstrate what he described as an unwavering US commitment to shared security and economic interests in the Pacific.
He pointed to cooperation in fisheries protection, law enforcement, infrastructure and regional security as examples of areas where the United States intends to continue working with Pacific governments.
The Deputy Secretary also highlighted the Compacts of Free Association between the United States and Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, saying the agreements remained central to regional security and prosperity.
Landau said changing security conditions in the Pacific meant defence and security relationships would continue to be reviewed.
He also emphasised greater commercial involvement in the region, saying Washington wanted to encourage private sector investment and promote what he described as “Trade Over Aid”.
Among the initiatives highlighted were efforts involving Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Taiwan to improve access to trusted undersea cable networks across Pacific Island Forum countries.
The United States also reaffirmed its commitment to the South Pacific Tuna Treaty, which has supported fisheries cooperation between the US and Pacific Island nations for decades.
Landau said Pacific leaders had also been connected with more than 80 US companies through an investment summit in Honolulu during the past year.
Other recent agreements mentioned in the statement included an Open Skies agreement with Samoa and cooperation with Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea.
Landau said the United States wanted to deliver practical results in areas including energy security, economic development and regional security.
“America is part of the Pacific,” Landau said, quoting former US President Ronald Reagan.
He said the United States would return to the region with “a hand of friendship outstretched” as Washington seeks to strengthen its relationships with Pacific nations.
The renewed US focus comes at a time of increasing international interest in the Pacific, with major powers seeking stronger diplomatic, economic and security relationships with island governments.
This article is based on a press release issued by the U.S. Embassy in Apia on 31 August 2026.
