David Wm. Hamon, M.A., APF

America needs a new strategy for engaging with Pacific Island Nations

Interview with Executive Director of CBRA on various aspects of supply chain security.

Both US Foreign Policy and global attention attest to the strategic, economic, and political importance of Asia. Yet the region faces many challenges if it wishes to remain stable and prosperous.

The U.S. Government engages the Pacific Island
states via many channels and fora dating from the
aftermath of World War II and the mandates of
the United Nations Trusteeship Council. This
relationship represents a special trust and legacy of
support. In August 2012, Hillary Rodham Clinton
was the first U.S. Secretary of State to attend a
Pacific Island Forum1, at the 43rd meeting, held in
Rarotonga, Cook Islands. During the Post-Forum
Dialogue, Secretary Clinton… Show more

The U.S. Government engages the Pacific Island
states via many channels and fora dating from the
aftermath of World War II and the mandates of
the United Nations Trusteeship Council. This
relationship represents a special trust and legacy of
support. In August 2012, Hillary Rodham Clinton
was the first U.S. Secretary of State to attend a
Pacific Island Forum1, at the 43rd meeting, held in
Rarotonga, Cook Islands. During the Post-Forum
Dialogue, Secretary Clinton delivered remarks in
which she underscored security as a priority for the
United States in the Pacific. For instance, she noted
that through the U.S. Coast Guard, the United States
is working to expand existing security partnerships
in the region in order to protect fishing, fight human
trafficking, and ensure free navigation of the waters,
among other things. In addition, the United States
has been supporting the Compact of Free Association
(COFA) and the Freely Associated States (FAS) with
a variety of engagement tools, including military
instruments and security guarantees to the COFA
states in the event of a crisis. Show less

When a large disaster occurs abroad, and it has the
potential to overwhelm the affected nation, the
international community responds. The response
team generally includes the government of the affected
nation, the U.S. Government, nongovernmental
organizations, the United Nations, and other foreign
governments interested in providing assistance.
The U.S. Government often plays a critical role in
foreign disaster response as part of the international
community; nations… Show more

When a large disaster occurs abroad, and it has the
potential to overwhelm the affected nation, the
international community responds. The response
team generally includes the government of the affected
nation, the U.S. Government, nongovernmental
organizations, the United Nations, and other foreign
governments interested in providing assistance.
The U.S. Government often plays a critical role in
foreign disaster response as part of the international
community; nations may also directly request U.S.
assistance Show less

Banyan Analytics is committed to informing decisions that shape the Nation’s role in the Asia-Pacific. Our publications demonstrate this commitment with high-quality objective research and analysis through a variety of methods, including case studies, conference reports, input papers, and others. This ongoing portfolio is developed with the institute’s expertise on Asia-Pacific issues, and by leveraging ANSER’s proven corporate capabilities

While conducting a case study of how the U.S.
Government responded to the March 11, 2011,
earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear incident at the
Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan, Banyan Analytics
interviewed many U.S. Government officials
involved in the response. Research and these
interviews have revealed that U.S. Government
agencies with a traditional focus primarily on
domestic disaster response had limited familiarity
and experience working with agencies focused… Show more

While conducting a case study of how the U.S.
Government responded to the March 11, 2011,
earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear incident at the
Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan, Banyan Analytics
interviewed many U.S. Government officials
involved in the response. Research and these
interviews have revealed that U.S. Government
agencies with a traditional focus primarily on
domestic disaster response had limited familiarity
and experience working with agencies focused on
international disaster response, and vice versa. The
U.S. Government applied its National Response
Framework internationally ad hoc, but there was no
organized framework for responding internationally.
Our interviewees have indicated that, at present,
the coordination of military and civilian operational
response entities in an international environment
remains somewhat ad hoc and piecemeal. If a
large-scale disaster, especially one with chemical,
biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) effects,
occurs in the near future, it is likely that the U.S.
response entities will encounter the same problems
as before. We feel there are gaps worth exploring and
that an international response framework (IRF) could
help the U.S. Government prepare for future natural
disasters or CBRN emergencies abroad. Experts
writing about the lessons learned from the Japanese
earthquake and tsunami have pointed toward the
need for an IRF that mirrors the National Response
Framework. Show less

The paper puts forward the idea of a broadened P-5 nuclear dialogue and encourages debate
about whether and how such a dialogue might be pursued. Our own conclusion can be set out up
front: the time may well be ripe for a more far-reaching P-5 nuclear engagement initiative.

The vulnerability of the industrialized world's energy infrastructure has been an international security concern for the last several decades. In recent years energy security has taken added significance as the need for petroleum products has grown, and the sources of these products have shifted further from the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) states, to unreliable or unstable regions, primarily in the Former Soviet Union (FSU) and the Greater Middle East (GME)… Show more

The vulnerability of the industrialized world's energy infrastructure has been an international security concern for the last several decades. In recent years energy security has taken added significance as the need for petroleum products has grown, and the sources of these products have shifted further from the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) states, to unreliable or unstable regions, primarily in the Former Soviet Union (FSU) and the Greater Middle East (GME). Indeed, the last few years have only highlighted this vulnerability, such as Russia's varied disputes with her neighbors, militant activities in Nigeria and the general upswing in Islamic radicalism and hostility toward the West. The next "hot war" or global conflict of cold war proportions may be over energy and the broader impact that industry has on the international economy. What is emerging in many countries is "Oil Nationalism," in which national control of energy is the manifestation of national strength and the source of political power. Quite often, revenues from the nationalized oil companies (NOCs) are lavished on social programs of questionable value, while substantive economic or infrastructural reforms are ignored. Talk of strengthening the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, is also causing concern among energy importing nations. Natural gas can be supplanted by other sources of energy, so an exporters cartel will not have the same global impact as OPEC. Nevertheless, it is clear that gas importers, which are predominantly OECD members, are uncomfortable with the prospect of another, mostly non-OECD, cartel. Not all the concern is with carbon-based energy resources. The renewed interest in nuclear technology has the potential to generate clean and cheap energy; though, even when dedicated to civilian use, it can be converted to highly enriched, or weapons grade, uranium (HEU). Show less

The U.S. government’s Asia-Pacific focus has increased attention to a region that is already saturated with information. To inform decision-makers on issues that have enduring effects in the Asia-Pacific, Banyan Analytics publishes a biweekly brief that is available both as a free e-mail subscription and on the institute’s website. The brief provides deep analyses of selected issues in the Asia-Pacific and offers valuable perspectives from both sides of the Pacific. The Banyan Analytics Brief… Show more

The U.S. government’s Asia-Pacific focus has increased attention to a region that is already saturated with information. To inform decision-makers on issues that have enduring effects in the Asia-Pacific, Banyan Analytics publishes a biweekly brief that is available both as a free e-mail subscription and on the institute’s website. The brief provides deep analyses of selected issues in the Asia-Pacific and offers valuable perspectives from both sides of the Pacific. The Banyan Analytics Brief cuts through the headline news, bringing to light information that is relevant to policy implementation and presenting fresh analysis that enables effective decision-making. Show less

I. Background
I. Background
The U.S. Government, along with nongovernmental
and private-sector organizations, provides, on a fairly
regular basis, assistance to foreign nations stricken by
disasters. Responses span a variety of scenarios, from
small- to large-scale disasters and including natural
disasters, man-made incidents, and armed conflicts.
The core U.S. stakeholders in this mission include the
Department of State, the Agency for International
Development… Show more

I. Background
I. Background
The U.S. Government, along with nongovernmental
and private-sector organizations, provides, on a fairly
regular basis, assistance to foreign nations stricken by
disasters. Responses span a variety of scenarios, from
small- to large-scale disasters and including natural
disasters, man-made incidents, and armed conflicts.
The core U.S. stakeholders in this mission include the
Department of State, the Agency for International
Development (USAID), the Office of U.S. Foreign
Disaster Assistance (OFDA), the National Security
Staff, and the regional bureaus, offices, and embassy
teams. While procedures are in place to address
small- to medium-scale disasters, fewer established
protocols are in place to respond adequately and
efficiently to complex, large-scale disasters. These
events may involve robust interagency participation,
including agencies and organizations unaccustomed
to foreign disaster response. Show less