On commercial diplomacy, the United States is shifting assistance toward private-sector-led growth, including efforts with Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Taiwan to connect every Pacific Islands Forum country to a trusted undersea cable network. A second Pacific Investment Summit is scheduled to be hosted in early 2027.
Failures involving agentic AI systems, he said, could disrupt essential services, fracture communications, destabilise critical infrastructure and undermine democratic institutions. Entire populations could lose access to clean water, heating and financial services.
"Part of the problem with Africans is that they look at the Army as a job. The Army is not a job; it’s an obligation to defend your country. When you are defending your country, it’s not a job. Don’t bring careerism in the Army. You have an obligation to defend the country."