Compact of Free Association

Review of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy

U.S.-Palau agreement shows new National Security Strategy in action

One of the new agreements with the United States is designed to help counter Chinese political warfare attacks on Palau. The initial cost to the United States is $2.2 million, exactly the sort of low-cost counter to China’s ability to disrupt and degrade the economy, politics and society of a key U.S. ally that is needed.

Urgent Need for New Approaches to Keep the Pacific Free

Excerpt The PRC has well-advanced plans for establishing influence that leads to control across much of the Pacific—plans that are essential if it is to achieve its other stated goals, such as taking...

Palau deports Chinese criminals, reinforces Indo-Pacific security

If China goes after Taiwan without ‘disabling’ Palau, its Taiwan operation could be jeopardized. Which is one of the reasons the U.S. is putting new military infrastructure, or, in some cases, bringing back to life World War II era infrastructure, in Palau.

Crossroads of Competition

China in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands

Examining the Office of Insular Affairs’ Role in Fostering Prosperity in the Pacific Territories and Addressing External Threats to Peace and Security

Deconstructing the Inauguration: No, not that one

We have a country that is geopolitically sophisticated, with close ties to the U.S., Japan and Taiwan, and is in a highly strategic location. So who showed up to Palau’s party, and who didn’t?

Australia vies with China to turn the Solomons into a police state

In October 2024, Suidani and Talifilu were arrested by Solomon Islands police under unusual circumstances. On December 19th, Australia announced it was giving Solomons AUS$190 million ‘to grow the size and capability of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), in response to a request by Solomon Islands’.

Palau is under attack from PRC

There is a spike in activity now because China sees Palau’s 5 November election as an opportunity to put in place representatives that are more in line with its ambitions.

‘Only strength can ensure peace’: Palau President Whipps Jr.

There is a lot going on in the Republic of Palau, a country of over 300 islands and around 20,000 people southeast of the Philippines. Its strategic location has meant Palau has been subject to waves of...

Protecting the Corridor of Freedom to America’s Asian Border

Excerpt Guam and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)—constituent parts of the United States—sit in such proximity to the Asian coast that the CNMI shares a maritime border with Japan....

China watches as the U.S. fumbles around in central Pacific

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The Trouble With Micronesia’s New China Policy

What does it mean for the FSM to tell China it opposes AUKUS and supports the Global Security Initiative?

The Importance of America’s Pacific Family

Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands are the United States’ closest allies. And they’re essential for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

COFA and the politics of delay

Tony Zielinski is a regular American citizen, who was enjoying his life in Florida.  Then he read about the problems with the renewals of key elements of the Compacts of Free Association with Palau, the...

Biden Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: March

Welcome back to the Biden Administration Foreign Policy Tracker. Once a month, we ask FDD’s experts and scholars to assess the administration’s foreign policy...

US Congress’ COFA Delay Jeopardizes a Key Element of the ’Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ 

The U.S. government concluded COFA renewal talks with Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands in 2023. Months later, Congress has yet to approve the funding.

In the Pacific, U.S. bureaucracy messes up against PRC influence operation

I have no idea what the U.S. State Department was thinking. But if the goal was to help honest people in a highly strategic country that is also a close ally protect themselves against Chinese influence...

Three upcoming events that could torpedo Pacific peace

Three things are going on that could turbo charge Chinese strategic expansion in the Pacific. U.S. DEFENCE ARCHITECTURE IN THE PACIFIC The first two involve what are known as the “Compact States”....

Australia: Neo-imperialist or climate change saviour?

Australia gets a remarkable set of rights from the Pacific island country of Tuvalu in exchange for things it can mostly find a reason to not do if it wants.