WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is working to strengthen relationships with countries in the Indo-Pacific as its term draws to a close by presenting three key agreements to Congress that would solidify ties with crucial allies and partners in a region increasingly shaped by China.
In notifications dispatched to lawmakers on Tuesday, President Joe Biden requested their endorsement of a civil nuclear cooperation pact with Thailand and the approval of free association agreements with the Pacific island nations of Palau and the Marshall Islands. It is anticipated that none of the agreements will face significant resistance from the incoming Biden administration, which, during its final two years in office in 2019 and 2020, also endeavored to enhance U.S. relations with these nations and their neighboring allies, primarily to counter the expanding influence of China.
The 30-year civil nuclear accord with Thailand, slated to come into effect in 90 days unless met with congressional objections, will facilitate the transfer of sensitive yet unclassified nuclear equipment, materials, and information aimed at assisting the Southeast Asian country in meeting its escalating energy demands.
The so-called “compacts of free association” with Palau and the Marshall Islands, in conjunction with an agreement for the Federated States of Micronesia, were generally approved by legislators earlier this year. However, on Tuesday, Biden forwarded to Capitol Hill the specifics of the $7.1 billion agreements with Palau and the Marshall Islands.
According to the terms of the agreements, the island nations will receive various benefits from U.S. agencies, notably in areas such as disaster relief, weather forecasting, and postal services. Furthermore, as outlined in the documents released on Tuesday, banks situated in Palau and the Marshall Islands will be eligible to seek support from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for their financial institutions. FDIC insurance serves to safeguard account holders from bank insolvency by ensuring that deposits up to a specified limit are covered by the federal government.
The Freely Associated States, with a combined population of under 200,000 dispersed across more than 1,000 islands and atolls approximately 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) southwest of Hawaii, play a crucial role in providing the U.S. military with a strategic presence in the Pacific. This includes a missile test facility in the Marshall Islands and the construction of a high-frequency radar system in Palau.
These nations have maintained strong bonds with the U.S. since American forces liberated them from Imperial Japan during World War II. Nevertheless, China has been diligently working to gain influence among them.
