Palau President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. welcomed U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro to the shores of Palau.
Del Toro's visit underscored the growing strategic ties between the United States and Palau, with a focus on bolstering defense cooperation and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific, according to a Navy press release. Del Toro visited Palau Feb. 29 to March 1 to, at least in part, discuss the "expanding relationship" between the two nations. Del Toro met with Whipps and U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Palau Joel Ehrendreich.
“President Whipps has been a marvelous reflection of all the people of Palau and a persistent supporter of the U.S.-Palau relationship, which directly supports a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” said Del Toro. “I can assure you that the United States remains committed to Palau’s national security, and I remain one of Palau’s strongest advocates in Washington, to include with Congress.”
The visit also included a tour of the ongoing expansion of the runway in Peleliu, highlighting the United States' continued investment in infrastructure and defense capabilities in Palau. The trip aligns with the Pentagon's National Defense Industrial Strategy and underscores the vital role Palau plays in U.S. defense and regional stability, according to Navy officials.
U.S. officials say the western Pacific island nation is a "critically important Compact of Free Association state" and the relationship is a part of the U.S. defense posture in the region. The visit, according to officials, was part of a series of strategic engagements in the Indo-Pacific.
The island nation celebrates its 30th year of Independence in October as well as 30 years of official diplomatic ties with the U.S.
Del Toro also thanked President Whipps for his support of the U.S. Navy Seabees and U.S. Marines engineering and construction work in Palau, including a runway improvement project in Peleliu by the Marines from the 7th Engineer Support Battalion. Del Toro visited the runway project. He also remembered the lives lost by both the U.S. and Japan by laying a wreath at Orange Breach in Peleliu, where the first U.S. invasion of forces landed during World War II, during the Battle of Peleliu. The 80th anniversary of the Battle of Peleliu is this September.
“Secretary Del Toro’s visit affirms the longstanding friendship and ironclad partnership between the United States and Palau, which includes the efforts of Palauans serving in the U.S. Navy for decades and still to this day. Now – more than ever – the cooperation between our two countries is contributing to the stability of the region,” said Ambassador Ehrendreich.
The trip to Palau was the third leg of travel through the Indo-Pacific, which included stops in the Republic of Korea and Japan.
“I can assure you that the United States remains committed to Palau’s national security, and I remain one of Palau’s strongest advocates in Washington, to include with Congress,” Del Toro said.
The Pentagon has stressed the need for Congress to pass the Compact Review Agreements with Palau, Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia.
During a recent briefing with national and international media, Pengaton Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said: “And finally, I want to take a moment to emphasize the critical national security importance of Congress … passing our budget and … the Compacts of Free Association. These are important agreements with our longstanding partners in the Pacific Islands region, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. As part of the compacts, the U.S. military enjoys exclusive access to a critical part of the region that's actually larger than the continental United States. Our State Department colleagues have successfully negotiated a — a 20 year extension, and now we just need Congress to fund and enact it.”
Watch of a video highlighting a portion of the Secretary of the Navy's tour at https://fb.watch/qywC0tyz3a/ mbj