Majuro: The United States has reaffirmed its enduring partnership with the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), emphasizing shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to regional security and prosperity. Under the Compact of Free Association (COFA), this partnership encompasses robust defense cooperation, granting the United States exclusive access to defense sites in the Marshall Islands and the authority to deny access to third-country militaries. During a visit by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo to Majuro, the two nations celebrated the implementation of the COFA and announced a series of initiatives underscoring the United States’ steadfast commitment to the RMI and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
According to EMM, the U.S. Department of State announced a plan to provide $13 million in funding for rebuilding the Nitijela, RMI’s parliament building, which recently burned down. This funding, in collaboration with support from Taiwan, underscores the U.S. commitment to helping the Marshall Islands recover from the incident. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of War will coordinate with the U.S. Department of State to establish new State Partnership Program (SPP) pairings between the RMI and the National Guards of Guam and Nebraska, enhancing cybersecurity, counter-narcotics, and maritime domain awareness.
The U.S.-RMI relationship, reflected by the COFA, has reached notable benchmarks, such as jointly approving trust fund distributions for Marshallese citizens and developing strategic plans for Compact-related grants in sectors like health, education, and infrastructure. The governments of the United States and the Marshall Islands have collaborated on plans for the use of approximately $100 million in economic assistance grants and Trust Fund distributions, ensuring that the Compact benefits both nations.
The United States has also reaffirmed its commitment to medical and engineering exercises aimed at improving the health of the Marshallese people. Plans for a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise have been announced, aligning with COFA obligations to enhance the RMI’s disaster preparedness.
To support law enforcement, the United States will provide drug testing kits and fund WWII unexploded ordnance (UXO) training for police. Recent WWII UXO clearance efforts have been successful, with deployments to Maloelap, Wotje, and Jaluit Atolls, and further UXO removal deployments to Mili Atoll are scheduled for 2026.
