US President Biden Recognizes Cook Islands and Niue, Commits to Infrastructure Funding in the Pacific

US President Biden announced on the 25th that he would recognize the Cook Islands and Niue, two small Pacific nations. (2023 Reuters/Leah Millis)

[２５日 ロイター] – On the 25th, US President Biden held his second meeting with the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), which is made up of Pacific island countries, at the White House. Earlier, he announced statehood for the small Pacific nations of the Cook Islands and Niue.

U.S. officials said the United States has committed to new funding for infrastructure in the region, including improving internet connectivity through submarine cables.

“The United States is committed to ensuring a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific region, and we are committed to working with all countries around this table to achieve that goal,” Biden said at the welcoming ceremony. Stated.

One of the officials said the U.S. will work with Congress to provide $40 million to support “safe, sustainable and resilient infrastructure” in the region, as well as work with partner countries such as Japan and Australia to combat climate change. The aim is to support strong and inclusive economic development.

When Biden mentioned the plan at a welcome ceremony, he mistakenly said it was $40 billion, when it was actually $40 million, officials said.

Prime Minister Brown of the Cook Islands, which chairs the PIF, said the summit was an “opportunity to develop a partnership for prosperity.” It called on the US government to “actively engage at the highest levels” in the 52nd PIF summit, which will be held in the coming weeks.

Biden also said in a statement that the United States has a long history of cooperation with the Cook Islands, dating back to World War II, when the U.S. military built an airport runway on one of the Cook Islands’ atolls. pointing out. Recognition of the Cook Islands and Niue would “expand the scope of this enduring partnership to address the challenges of greatest importance to the lives of our peoples.”

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2023-09-25 19:49:00