The US gives the "stage" to Australia to show off, affirming its "loyalty" to the region.

The US has given Australia the opportunity to lead a new security cooperation plan in the Pacific.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks about the new Pacific initiative on August 28. (Source: X)

On August 28, at the Pacific Islands Forum, taking place from August 26-30, attending leaders approved a 400 million AUD ($271 million) initiative funded by Australia to enhance police training programs and establish a mobile police unit in the region.

AFP news agency quoted US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell as saying that Washington had decided not to pursue a similar plan, because it had received a request from Australia for Canberra to take on that role.

He affirmed US support for Australia's leadership role in implementing the plan.

Under the initiative, a force of about 200 officers from Pacific island nations is expected to be deployed to hotspots and disasters in the region when needed.

Although forum members agree in principle to the initiative, the specific level of participation by individual countries has yet to be decided.

Australia and New Zealand have long been important security partners in the region, leading peacekeeping and training missions in many island nations.

Also related to the Pacific island nations, on the same day, the White House said that since taking office, the administration of US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris has prioritized a broad foreign policy with these countries.

As a Pacific nation, the United States has an enduring interest in working with our Pacific neighbors on climate, freedom of peaceful navigation, and promoting economic growth and development.

According to the White House, at the Pacific Islands Forum, the US will promote cooperation priorities through sub-regional forums such as the Blue Pacific Partnership and the Quad (QUAD) to meet the needs of countries.

Over the past three and a half years, the United States has announced the US-Pacific Partnership Strategy, provided more than $8 billion in new funding to the Pacific Islands, opened three new embassies in Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu, recognized the Cook Islands and Niue as sovereign, independent nations, and established diplomatic relations with them.

Additionally, the United States is expanding USAID offices in Papua New Guinea and Fiji, returning the Peace Corps to Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu, and enhancing access to U.S. consular services to make travel easier for citizens.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/quan-dao-thai-binh-duong-my-nhuong-san-khau-cho-australia-the-hien-khang-dinh-long-thanh-voi-khu-vuc-284279.html