Excellent meetings today in Kiribati with President Taneti Maamau at a development conference on Kiritimati (Christmas) Island. The US and Kiribati go back a long way, at least to 1857 when missionary Hiram Bingham II landed to introduce Christianity into the Gilbert Islands and worked with local leaders to develop the written form of their language and translate the Bible. Our ties were later sealed in blood in the ferocious Battle of Tarawa in November 1943. And our current relationship is governed by the Tarawa Treaty of 1979 (when Kiribati gained its independence from Great Britain), which contemplates ongoing consultations between our governments. Kiribati is the closest Pacific neighbor to Hawaii, and it’s important to reaffirm our close relationship. 🇺🇸🤝🇰🇮

Prime Minister Matthew Wale of the Solomon Islands is one of my favorite world leaders. He has a clear vision for improving his country and the energy to get the job done. Shortly after he took office this past May, he sent me a list of priority actions we could take to advance our bilateral agenda, such as fostering US investment, enhancing cooperation on maritime security, and returning the @PeaceCorps after an absence of more than 25 years. Over the ensuing months, we have rapidly been checking off items on that list, and I was delighted to visit him in Honiara this week to finalize the return of the Peace Corps and celebrate our reinvigorated relationship. 🇺🇸🤝🇸🇧

“We can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.” These words from the Gettysburg Address thundered through my head as I spoke yesterday at a memorial service on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The fighting there 84 years ago, which marked a turning point in WWII, took place largely in and around the current capital city of Honiara, and I was honored to salute the sacrifice of so many so far from their homes, as well as the local scouts and coastwatchers who helped them. The US and the Solomon Islands are forever linked by bonds of blood. 🇺🇸🤝🇸🇧

The US wiped out much of the Imperial Japanese fleet in the Chuuk (formerly Truk) Lagoon in WWII, and the spot is now known as the world’s largest ship graveyard. I was honored to visit Chuuk, one of the four states comprising the Federated States of Micronesia, and especially Tonoas Island in the Lagoon, which was devastated by Typhoon Sinlaku last April. Given the Compact of Free Association linking our countries, the US is playing an important role in relief and reconstruction efforts. 🇺🇸🤝🇫🇲

I’m not sure many Americans realize that our country enjoys an exceptionally close relationship with three Pacific Island nations: Palau 🇵🇼, the Federated States of Micronesia 🇫🇲, and the Marshall Islands 🇲🇭. Each of these nations came under US administration as a trust territory after WWII but opted for independence in the 1980s and 90s under Compacts of Free Association (COFAs) with the US. These COFAs provide benefits for both sides, and (among other things) give the US responsibility and authority over defense and security. I had the pleasure of conferring with the Presidents of all three COFA countries last week to reaffirm our close relationships and announce (among other things) the planned return of the Peace Corps.

Tonga 🇹🇴 / Cook Islands 🇨🇰 / Samoa 🇼🇸 / New Zealand 🇳🇿

My remarks at the Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Palau last week focused on promoting economic development through investment by our dynamic private sector and establishing a Pacific Energy Security Initiative to address the region’s energy needs. I also announced cooperative programs to combat illegal fishing and drug trafficking and the long overdue return of the Peace Corps to several countries in the region. And I underscored our common faith heritage by asking Almighty God to grant us all the wisdom to deliver results for our peoples. 🇺🇸🙏🏝️

During my recent trip to Palau, I was honored to visit the island of Peleliu, the scene of fierce fighting between American and Japanese forces in the fall of 1944. Admiral Lunday, Commandant of the @USCG, Lt. General Rowell, Deputy Commander of @USPACOM, and I led a brief memorial service at Orange Beach, the landing site, to honor our countrymen who gave their lives there. The island is still littered with the rusting relics of war, and you can see the caves where the Japanese ferociously resisted the American advance. It’s important for diplomats to visit battlefields to understand how terrible the ultimate consequences of diplomatic failure can be. – at Palau

It was an honor and a pleasure to represent the US at the Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ Meeting this week in the beautiful island nation of Palau. Admiral Kevin Lunday, the Commandant of our Coast Guard, and I met with many regional leaders, including the Presidents of Palau 🇵🇼 the Marshall Islands 🇲🇭, and Naoero (f/k/a Nauru) 🇳🇷, the Prime Ministers of Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬, Tonga 🇹🇴, and the Cook Islands 🇨🇰, the Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa 🇼🇸, the Foreign Ministers of New Zealand 🇳🇿 and Fiji 🇫🇯, the Pacific Affairs Minister of Australia 🇦🇺, the former President of the Government of New Caledonia 🇳🇨, and representatives of other Dialogue Partners including Japan 🇯🇵 and France 🇫🇷. As a Pacific nation, the US looks forward to working with partners to foster security and prosperity throughout the region. 🏝️

The United States is a Pacific nation by both geography and history. Over the past two centuries, our missionaries, whalers, soldiers, and sailors forged unbreakable bonds between our peoples. I’m honored and delighted to be returning for my third trip to the Pacific Islands as Deputy Secretary of State to reaffirm and deepen those bonds. state.gov/releases/office-of…

The histories of the US and the Solomon Islands have long been intertwined, from the missionaries who preached the Gospels to the Marines and soldiers who liberated Guadalcanal in WWII. It was a real honor and pleasure for me today to host the country’s dynamic new Prime Minister, Matthew Wale, and his distinguished delegation to the @StateDept. We discussed strengthening our economic and security ties, and signed an agreement aimed at redeploying the @PeaceCorps to the islands after more than a quarter century. Under @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @SecRubio, US diplomatic engagement in the Pacific Island countries is more robust than ever! 🇺🇸🤝🇸🇧