Indo-Pacific Analysis Brief Vol 34
America’s Pacific Island Summit:
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
November 2022
Derek Grossman
Key Messages
↗ Amidst increased Chinese engagement in the Pacific Islands, the US recently hosted the first ever Pacific Islands Summit in Washington
↗ The new ‘Declaration on US-Pacific Partnership’ marks a shift by the US towards greater involvement with Pacific Island countries but leaves room for improvement
↗ Not all Pacific Island Forum countries were represented at the Summit, signaling a lack of care and understanding by the US
↗ The US runs the risk of being seen as only engaging with Pacific Islands countries to preserve its own power, rather than as a genuine partner
↗ Washington must reconsider its diplomatic approach in the Pacific if it is to improve its relationships and presence in the region

