Cook Island PM Credits Success of US-Pacific Summit to Recognition of US Absence in the Pacific

U.S. President Joe Biden (C) and leaders from the Pacific Islands region pose for a photograph on the North Portico of the White House September 29, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Recognition of the U.S.’s absence in the Pacific region was one of the reasons why the U.S.-Pacific Summit succeeded, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has said.

This follows the endorsement of the joint partnership declaration by 14 Pacific Island states that would see the U.S. increase its diplomatic presence in the pacific region as a counter to Beijing’s growing influence.

Speaking on the ABC’s Pacific Beat on Oct. 4, Brown said many pacific nations were “looking for support from all corners” as they emerge out of COVID and manage their debts.

“[F]or us we see the U.S. as being a major contributor [to Pacific Islands], with its announcements of support that it will put towards to pacific countries,” Brown said.

“Full credit to the U.S. They recognised that their absence over decades resulted in a vacuum in the Pacific that has been filled by countries like China and others that have assisted.”

On Sept. 29, all 14 Pacific Island states issued a joint declaration endorsing the U.S.-Pacific Partnership. The 11-point declaration addressed issues around pacific regionalism, climate change, economic growth, disaster relief, and peace and security.

Biden also announced on Sept. 29 US$810 million in new funding to Pacific Island nations over the next decade.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare initially declined to sign the joint statement if it contained anything critical of China, saying that it needed more time to reflect on the proposal.

However, Sogavare endorsed the joint statement and on Oct. 6 assured Australia that it would not “endanger his country” by allowing Beijing to build a naval base in the South Pacific.

“Prime minister, I reiterate again that the Solomon Islands will never be used for foreign military installations or institutions of foreign countries because this will not be in the interest of the Solomon Islands and its people,” Sogavare told Albanese on Oct. 6 before their meeting at Parliament House.

“My government’s legacy is to safeguard the future of the Solomon Islands and its people and not to endanger the country and its citizens or the security of any forum country.”

Other Reasons For U.S.-Pacific Summit Support

Brown said there were other reasons why Pacific Island nations, particularly the Solomon Islands, supported the joint statement.

“It wasn’t just rhetoric. It wasn’t sugar-coating,” Brown said.

“We had full-on, face-to-face meetings with a very focused view on what the US needs to do to re-engage with the Pacific.

“Whether it remains to be seen as a major competitive element in the relations with China. For us, it remains to be seen. We work compatibly with both China, and now we look forward to the same engagement with the U.S.

“I think that our pacific island member countries that were invited emphasised the importance of the pacific islands forum as the key institution that the pacific engages in on a regional basis.”

Robust aid and Peace Corps programs were initially staples of U.S. involvement in the Pacific, but over the years have been allowed to “atrophy,” said Kurt Campbell, the Biden administration’s Indo-Pacific coordinator, on Sept. 18.

“There’s also a deeper recognition that in the past, we have perhaps paid lesser attention to these critical places than we should have. And I think being honest about that is important,” Campbell said. “And now we’re in the process of rebuilding all of those and more.”