Marshall Islands

January 27, 2025 | Cleo Paskal |

Who’s afraid of China? Palau inauguration calls bluff of ‘friends to all, enemies to none’

For all the regional talk of “Pacific family” and “friends to all enemies to none” who did – and who didn’t – show up for the Jan. 16 inauguration of Palau President Surangel S. Whipps Jr....

January 26, 2025 | Cleo Paskal |

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?

September 22, 2024 | Cleo Paskal |

‘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...

August 16, 2024 | |

Treasury Sanctions Iranian Proxies Smuggling Commodities

The U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions targeting entities affiliated with Iranian proxy terrorist groups in Yemen and Lebanon engaged in the smuggling of Iranian commodities....

July 17, 2024 | |

Top Shipping Company Warns of Global Impact of Houthi Attacks on Vessels in Red Sea

Latest Developments Danish shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk) said on July 17 that the consequences of diverting ships away from the Red Sea to avoid attacks launched by Iranian-backed Houthi...

July 1, 2024 | Cleo Paskal |

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....

June 26, 2024 | |

U.S. Sanctions Banking Network Transferring Billions for Iran’s Military

The United States sanctioned nearly 50 individuals and entities that comprise branches of a “shadow banking” network processing billions of dollars for Iran’s military on June...

April 28, 2024 | Cleo Paskal |

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

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April 19, 2024 | Richard Clark |

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?

April 10, 2024 | |

U.S. Sends Ukraine Weapons Seized En Route from Iran to Yemen

America transferred to Ukraine thousands of Iranian weapons that were seized enroute to Yemen by U.S. naval forces and partner nations, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on...

April 3, 2024 | Cleo Paskal |

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.

March 4, 2024 | |

Houthis Sink First Commercial Ship in Red Sea

A commercial ship sank in the Red Sea on March 2 about two weeks after Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck it with an anti-ship ballistic missile, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said....

March 4, 2024 | Cleo Paskal |

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...

February 8, 2024 | Cleo Paskal |

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.

January 19, 2024 | |

CENTCOM: Houthis Carry Out Multiple Attacks on Red Sea Shipping

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen carried out multiple attacks on shipping in or near the Southern Red Sea in recent days, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on January 18. Most...

January 18, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

US vs Houthis: New stage of Red Sea threats emerges

What is clear now is that these attacks are not only increasing but settling into a new type of routine.

January 16, 2024 | |

Israel SitRep: Jan. 16, 2024

Today’s Issue: Iran Strikes Northern Iraq and Northern Syria, Aims to Hit Israeli Target | Israeli forces clash with suspected arms smugglers near Israel-Egypt border | ‘Intensive’ Ground Operations...

December 17, 2023 | Cleo Paskal, Col. Grant Newsham

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...

November 19, 2023 | Cleo Paskal |

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”....

November 12, 2023 | Cleo Paskal, Col. Grant Newsham

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.