U.S. Secretary of State Blinken visited Papua New Guinea, an island nation in the South Pacific, and signed a bilateral defense cooperation agreement. By increasing its involvement in Pacific island nations, it aims to counter and rewind China's growing influence in the region.
Following the G7 Hiroshima Summit, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken visited Papua New Guinea, an island nation in the South Pacific, on June 22 and held talks with Prime Minister Marape.
and signed a bilateral defense cooperation agreement to facilitate joint military training between the two countries.
Secretary Blinken also held a meeting with the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum, which is made up of Pacific island nations and 2 countries and regions, including Australia.
The U.S. government will invite regional leaders to Washington, D.C., later this year to discuss cooperation on climate change and enhanced ocean surveillance.
Initially, President Biden was scheduled to visit Papua New Guinea after attending the G18 Hiroshima Summit, but Secretary Blinken was dispatched to Papua New Guinea because he was postponed to discuss the U.S. government's debt ceiling, the so-called debt ceiling issue.
The Biden administration aims to counter and roll back China's growing influence in the region by increasing its involvement in Pacific island countries.