Page 24 - Islands Business February 2023

U.S./Pacific U.S./Pacific

SHOW ME THE

MONEY!

CAN WASHINGTON FUND ITS

PACIFIC PLEDGES?

By Nic Maclellan

“We have not been sufficiently engaged at a critical time in
the Pacific islands. Not only do the Pacific islands face existen-
tial threats like climate change and economic dislocation, but
clearly they’re being impacted by the geopolitical challenge
that we are all facing.” U.S. Congressman Ed Case of Hawaii
That’s Congressman Ed Case, who represents Hawai’i in
the U.S. House of Representatives. Co-founder of the Pacific
Islands Caucus within the U.S. Congress, Case also serves on focussed on China and security concerns. This ‘Pacific Partner-
the House Appropriations Committee, a central clearinghouse ship Strategy of the United States’ highlights challenges for
for funding of U.S. government programs. the region that “include pressure and economic coercion by
Speaking from his office in Washington, Congressman Case the People’s Republic of China, which risks undermining the
told Islands Business that there was growing U.S. awareness peace, prosperity, and security of the region, and by exten-
about the importance of the Pacific islands and the priorities sion, of the United States.”
of Forum Island Countries. Faced with Chinese diplomatic, Expanding Washington’s diplomatic footprint, a new U.S.
trade and security initiatives, the U.S. government has com- embassy in Solomon Islands opened in January. The new
mitted to re-engage with the region after many years of rela- Defence Act authorises US$40 million over the next year
tive inattention. for work on new facilities in Kiribati and Tonga, noting “the
“It’s not where it needs to be, but it’s a lot better than it United States requires a physical and more robust diplomatic
was,” he said. “We’re not in a disengaged posture or neutral presence in the Republic of Vanuatu, the Republic of Kiribati,
posture – we are in a re-engaged posture. But this doesn’t the Solomon Islands and the Kingdom of Tonga, to ensure
happen overnight, after the country has spent the better part the physical and operational security of our efforts in those
of two decades focusing elsewhere in the world. We have to countries to deepen relations, protect United States national
realise that while we were disengaged, the region changed, security, and pursue United States national interests.”
individual countries changed, their interests changed and
their regional institutions changed.” New legislation
Within the U.S. legislature, Case has tried to highlight the President Biden has made major commitments to Forum
Pacific islands within the broader U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy. Island Countries, but Congressman Case acknowledged that
“I co-chair the Pacific Islands Caucus in Congress, which “pledges of assistance need funding to follow through on
I co-founded in 2019,” he said. “Back then, we felt that them – otherwise they’re just pledges. Are we putting our
although we were engaging more broadly in the Indo-Pacific, money where our mouth is?”
we were not engaging sufficiently in the Pacific islands them- In February 2021, Case co-sponsored the BLUE Pacific Act,
selves.” seeking more funding for programs in the islands. He told
Throughout 2022, the Biden administration mounted a Islands Business this legislation was developed in consultation
series of high-profile diplomatic initiatives in the region, with America’s ANZUS partners: “We consulted Australia and
including an online address by Vice President Kamala Harris New Zealand and asked them ‘where are we not sufficiently
to the Forum leaders meeting in July, and an unprecedented engaging?’”
U.S.-Pacific Island Country summit at the White House in Sep- The bill languished in committee, but key elements were
tember, hosted by President Joe Biden. For Case, “the Vice taken up in other legislation during 2022. Fearing the loss of a
President’s address and the White House summit were both Democratic Party majority in last November’s mid-term Con-
historic events in our engagement with the Pacific.” gressional elections, the White House sought to lock in fund-
The White House summit issued a joint communiqué – the ing for programs at home and abroad, boosting co-ordination
‘Declaration on U.S.-Pacific Partnership’ – that highlights with allies like Australia and Japan in the strategic competi-
climate change, environment and Pacific regionalism. In the tion with China. Last October, the Biden administration’s first
same month, the U.S. government released its first compre- National Security Strategy stressed that investing at home and
hensive strategy for the Pacific islands, which more explicitly aligning with allies is vital for “out-competing the PRC in the

24 Islands Business, February 2023