Biden to host pacific leaders in Washington next week
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Richard Verma announced that Biden would host the second US-Island Pacific Islands Forum in an attempt to boost influence in the region.
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US President Joe Biden speaks before a screening of the series 'American Born Chinese' in the East Room of the White House in Washington, in celebration of Asian American on May 8, 2023. (AP)
Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Richard Verma. announced on Monday that President Joe Biden will host Pacific island leaders at the second US-Island Pacific Islands Forum next week in Washington, as part of his administration's attempts to increase US influence throughout the Pacific.
Speaking to an audience at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP), Verma announced that "Next week, President Biden will host the second US-Island Pacific Islands Forum," citing
According to Verma, the conference will be part of a period of intense effort aimed at increasing US influence and position within the area.
Verma stated that the Biden administration has initiated a continuous discussion to hear and react to the economic and security requirements of the region's island states.
Last year's US-Pacific Islands summit was a political embarrassment for Washington as the Solomon Islands rejected a draft US agreement, and Micronesian leaders raised serious concerns about “insufficient” financial assistance to the region.
At the time, The Guardian reported that the draft sparked debate among the islands' leaders after the Solomon Islands refused to accept the US proposal. While the islands sought to address their climate emergency in July, US Vice President Kamala Harris announced in an unprecedented move a fund of $600 million to the islands in order "to counter the Chinese influence in the region."
Marshall Islands-US relations
Amid persistent tensions between Beijing and Washington, the Marshall Islands nation is one of the most important US allies in the Pacific.
Back in September 2022, the Marshall Islands suspended major discussions with the US over longstanding concerns, stretching back 70 years, pertaining to nuclear testing on the atolls in the middle of the Pacific.
The Marshall Islands have refused to continue discussions unless Washington addresses the persistent health, environmental, and economic difficulties caused by US nuclear testing on the picturesque atolls from 1946 to 1958.
The previous 20-year financing arrangement ends by September 2023, therefore, US officials hoped for a quick resolution to the compact talks.
However, the Marshall Islands' grievances over nuclear testing continue to be ignored by the US administration.
