Compact of Free Association (COFA)
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Oceania
Allies and Partners boost deterrence, resilience in Palau
FORUM Staff Palau’s renewed Compact of Free Association with the United States in 2024 secured $890 million in economic assistance for the Blue Pacific nation, which has seen its tourism industry shrink due to economic coercion by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Equally important, the renewal reinforced the agreement on the joint use of ports, airfields and other sites…
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Conflicts - Tensions
U.S. to enforce maritime law around Palau
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The United States has signed a new agreement with Palau, which gives U.S. ships the authorization to unilaterally enforce maritime regulations in the Pacific Island Country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the U.S. Coast Guard said in August 2023. The agreement follows pleas from Palau’s president for Washington’s help to deter Beijing’s “unwanted activities” in its coastal waters.…
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Northeast Asia
Task Force Koa Moana 23 strengthens South Pacific partnerships
FORUM Staff About 200 United States Marines and Sailors visited three South Pacific nations from June through September 2023 to bolster relationships, enhance infrastructure and improve citizens’ lives. Task Force Koa Moana 23 deployed in detachments to the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Papua New Guinea (PNG). Combat Logistics Battalion 11, part of the 1st Marine Logistics Group, conducted…
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Conflicts - Tensions
Massive U.S. military exercise places premium on partnership, transparency
FORUM Staff Valiant Shield 2022 offered more than just a chance for United States joint forces to exercise their cross-domain capabilities and test emerging technologies, military leaders say. It presented an opportunity to collaborate with Indo-Pacific partners and reinforce relationships through transparent and inclusive operations designed to minimize potential disruptions to host communities. (Pictured above: A PAC-2 Patriot interceptor missile…
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Oceania
Valiant Shield demonstrates U.S. joint forces’ ability to project power, defend homeland
FORUM Staff United States joint forces in the Indo-Pacific combined across multiple warfighting domains in June 2022 to sharpen regional and global power projection capabilities and to ready for crises ranging from armed conflict to disaster relief. Exercise Valiant Shield encompassed about 13,000 personnel from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Space Force, as well as more…
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