Papua New Guinea

April 25, 2025 | |

‘Unwavering Commitment to Peace’: Paraguay Designates Iran’s IRGC a Terrorist Organization

Expands Hamas and Hezbollah Designation: Paraguay designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization on April 24. The Latin American nation also...

March 5, 2025 | Cleo Paskal |

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

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?

December 13, 2024 | |

‘Peace, Development, and Mutual Understanding’: Paraguay Reopens Embassy in Israeli Capital Jerusalem

Latin American Nation Reopens Embassy in Jerusalem: Paraguay reopened its embassy in Jerusalem on December 12, becoming the first nation to move its main diplomatic mission to Israel’s...

May 1, 2024 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer, Damjan Krnjević Mišković

The Azerbaijanis, Not the Azeris, Are Hosting COP29

The Republic of Azerbaijan will host the annual  UN  Climate Change Conference known as COP29 in November 2024. For many who will attend COP29 and follow the process, this will be their first...

September 17, 2023 | Cleo Paskal |

War flashbacks in Guam as China projects power in the Pacific

Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero, the Governor of Guam, a US territory, is not just waiting for the rest of the US to come save them. In this interview conducted in July, she describes some of the initiatives she is hoping to get off the ground so Guam is better able to defend itself.

September 1, 2023 | Cleo Paskal |

US Pacific Policy in China’s Shadow

Washington has indeed stepped up engagement, but missteps, half-steps, and mixed messaging are getting in the way.

August 28, 2023 | |

Papua New Guinea to Open Jerusalem Embassy 

Latest Developments  Papua New Guinea’s prime minister will visit Israel next week to open an embassy in Jerusalem, a spokesperson for his office said on August 28. The inauguration, tentatively...

August 20, 2023 | Cleo Paskal |

In sign of weakness, pro-PRC Solomons PM avoids meeting US Congress members

PM Sogavare avoided meeting a US Congressional Delegation that was visiting the country. Not a single government minister met the two Members of Congress during their time in the capital, Honiara.

August 6, 2023 | Cleo Paskal |

The complicated case of Nauru, which stood up to China

Some of Nauru’s decisions made on principle, for example recognizing Taiwan, likely hurt Nauru’s economy. Nauru doesn’t just recognize Taiwan, it has stood up to China in diplomatic venues in ways some Western diplomats could only dream about.

July 9, 2023 | Cleo Paskal, Col. Grant Newsham

U.S. fighting China on the wrong battlefield

While the U.S. has been focused on preparing for the kinetic warfare battlefield, China has been registering big wins on the political warfare battlefield. You can see it all over the Pacific Islands.

June 25, 2023 | Cleo Paskal |

Palau under CCP pressure to switch recognition from Taiwan to China

The President of Palau, Surangel Whipps Jr., speaks to The Sunday Guardian on what his Pacific Island Country is facing.

June 14, 2023 | Cleo Paskal |

How the Compacts of Free Association Support U.S. Interests and Counter the PRC’s Influence | Indo-Pacific Task Force

Indo-Pacific Task Force

May 19, 2023 | Cleo Paskal, Anthony Bergin

Modi goes to PNG – why it matters to the region and Australia

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Papua New Guinea early next week and then go on to Australia, despite the cancellation of the Quad Leaders’ summit. Fortunately, Prime Minister Modi’s...

May 16, 2023 | Cleo Paskal |

Preserving U.S. Interests in the Indo-Pacific

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March 4, 2023 | Cleo Paskal |

‘India can provide capital, technology to harness Bougainville’s resources’

‘For the past few decades, the United States has beaten a gradual retreat from the South Pacific. Given the aggressive manoeuvres of China in the region, that path must obviously be reversed.’

November 5, 2022 | Cleo Paskal |

‘Quad needs to befriend Bougainville, not just Papua New Guinea’

‘China may be getting ready to do in PNG what it has already pulled off in the Solomon Islands. Is it really smart for Australia, let alone its diplomatic friends in the Quad to bet everything on PNG?’

October 2, 2022 | Cleo Paskal |

US moves on Pacific islands, but barely

The last two weeks have seen some of the most frantic US activity related to the Pacific Islands since the end of World War II. A lot happened. It’s like a plane suddenly dropped a cargo of randomly-sized boulders into a lake with varied depths. Some initiatives will sink, others may become essential islands of security in rough weather, some might inadvertently hit and sink the boats of allies.

May 28, 2022 | Cleo Paskal |

China launches empire building exercise in Pacific theatre

President Panuelo: ‘Chinese control over our security space, aside from impacts on our sovereignty, increases the chances of China getting into conflict with Australia, Japan, US and New Zealand, on the day when Beijing decides to invade Taiwan