A high-level U.S. Government delegation comprised of senior officials from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Agency for International Development will attend the 30th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Session with Forum Dialogue Partners on September 4, 2018 in Nauru.
The delegation will be led by Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke.
A press release from the State Department Asia Pacific desk says,”This visit will underscore our close partnership with the Pacific Islands in promoting sustainable growth and prosperity, ensuring regional stability, and addressing global concerns.”
The Governor’s Office has confirmed that the delegation will be making a refueling stop at Pago Pago International Airport.
The U.S. delegation will host a roundtable with Pacific Islands leaders on September 4, 2018.
Members of the U.S. delegation will also conduct bilateral consultations with heads of state of Pacific Islands Forum members and other senior foreign officials to discuss issues of regional and global importance, including regional security, responding to the threat posed by the activities of the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, combatting illegal fishing, and sustainable development.
The release says the Pacific Islands region is an enduring foreign policy priority for the United States.
“Through 17 of our departments and agencies – the United States committed more than $350 million in FY 2016 to our engagement with the Pacific Islands via projects, assistance, and operations that directly benefit the 9 million people of the region.”
