‘I hear you’: Biden reiterates US commitment to Pacific Islands amid China’s overtures

US President Joe Biden (centre) standing with Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape (left), Prime Minister of Cook Islands Mark Brown (second from left, President of Kiribati Taneti Maamau (second from right) and Prime Minister of Tuvalu Kausea Natano (right) during a group photo opportunity with other leaders of the US-Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), at the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on Sept 25, 2023.

US President Joe Biden (centre) standing with (from left) Papua New Guinea PM James Marape, Cook Islands PM Mark Brown, Kiribati President Taneti Maamau and Tuvalu PM Kausea Natano at the White House on Sept 25.

PHOTO: EPA-EFE

Elizabeth Law

and

Jonathan Pearlman

Follow topic:

SYDNEY - Three years ago, the first world leader to congratulate United States President Joe Biden on his election win was the head of a small Pacific island nation that had never been visited by a sitting president and barely rated a mention on the White House’s agenda.

The congratulations came from then Prime Minister of Fiji Frank Bainimarama, who sent a congratulatory tweet hours before the American television broadcasters had declared Mr Biden the winner.

‘I hear you’: Biden reiterates US commitment to Pacific Islands amid China’s overtures

Follow topic:

See more on