US, Australia and Allies Form New Pacific Island Partnership
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The US and Australia along with three other allies will form a new initiative that will assist Pacific Island countries in addressing challenges including climate change and security, as concerns about Chinese influence in the region grow.
The UK, New Zealand and Japan will also be part of the Partners in the Blue Pacific pact, an informal mechanism to assist Fiji, Samoa and other small nations in the region, according to a joint statement Friday. High-level officials from the five countries forming the initiative met in Washington on June 23 and 24 for consultations with heads of missions from Pacific nations, and observers from France and the European Union.