U.S.-Pacific Island Country Summit

September 28-29, 2022 in Washington, D.C.

President Biden hosted the first ever U.S.- Pacific Island Country Summit in Washington, D.C. on September 28-29, 2022.

The Summit demonstrated the United States’ deep and enduring partnership with Pacific Island countries and the Pacific region that is underpinned by shared history, values, and people-to-people ties.

The Summit reflected our broadening and deepening cooperation on key issues such as climate change, pandemic response, economic recovery, maritime security, environmental protection, and advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Our Deep and Enduring Partnerships

The United States is a Pacific nation, with a long coastline, an island state and territories in the Pacific. 

We also have deep and longstanding ties to the countries of the Pacific, our neighbors, allies, and friends.  Our histories and futures are inextricably linked, and we will remain a committed partner in the region.   

Engagement on Key Issues

The Department of State has increased its staffing in the Pacific Islands in the last five years to improve our ability to connect with our neighbors in the region.

The United States continuously examines ways to expand our diplomatic, development, and people-to-people efforts in countries where we do not have personnel physically present and regularly reviews staffing in the region.

As Secretary Blinken announced in Fiji on February 12, the United States intends to open an Embassy to Solomon Islands in Honiara.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken meets with Pacific Island leaders in Nadi, Fiji, on February 12, 2022. [State Department photo by Ron Przysucha/ Public Domain]

In a virtual appearance at the Pacific Islands Forum in July, Vice President Harris announced the United States plans to begin discussions on our intent to open embassies in the Kingdom of Tonga and the Republic of Kiribati.

These announcements build on U.S. efforts to place more diplomatic staff throughout the region to further engage with our Pacific neighbors, connect U.S. programs and resources with needs on the ground, and build people-to-people ties.

Our Commitment

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the Pacific Islands at this year’s Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders (PICL) in Honolulu, Hawai’i.

The Deputy Secretary led a high-level U.S. interagency delegation, including representatives from the National Security Council, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of the Interior, and USAID.

At the PICL, the Deputy Secretary highlighted a range of ongoing U.S. areas of cooperation with the Pacific Islands and announced several new programs.

We will continue to broaden our efforts to partner with Pacific Island Countries on their most pressing challenges, including on combating the climate crisis, economic and environmental resilience, water and food security, health security, maritime security, and good governance.

We will broaden our efforts to build climate resilience in the region as part of the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE), the Administration’s cornerstone international climate adaptation initiative.