The United States (U.S) has announced more than $150 million in new support for Pacific Island countries and pledged to strengthen commercial, energy and maritime partnerships following the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau.
Addressing journalists at a virtual press briefing on Tuesday, September 15th, 2026, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Matt Murray said Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau represented the United States at the forum before travelling to the Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands and Kiribati.
Landau led an interagency delegation that included the Coast Guard commandant and officials from the Interior Department, Development Finance Corporation, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Peace Corps and Department of Energy. He held 11 bilateral meetings in Palau.
Murray said the new funding would support energy security, critical infrastructure, commercial diplomacy, trusted digital technology, law enforcement, maritime security, scientific cooperation and people-to-people ties.
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.
On energy, Washington plans to provide $60 million to ease short-term budget pressures arising from the global energy crisis and expand fuel storage and grid stability. USTDA will also examine upgrades to Tonga’s port, storage and pipeline infrastructure.
On security, the United States announced a $17 million regional project targeting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, as well as an inaugural U.S.-Pacific Islands Conference of Police Ministers later this year, to be co-chaired with Palau.
In Micronesia, the United States intends to provide more than $100 million to support recovery from Typhoon Sinlaku. In Honiara, officials signed a Peace Corps country agreement following a 26-year absence.
“Strong U.S. ties with the Pacific make our country and the region safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” Murray said, adding that Washington would continue to engage with the region on the basis of partnership and respect.
