Congressional Inaction Risks U.S. Influence in Pacific, Invites Chinese Expansion

Failure to fund agreements with Pacific Island nations could weaken U.S. strategic position and empower China's regional ambitions.

U.S. Congress has yet to allocate approximately $2 billion needed for Compacts of Free Association with Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau, risking the expiration of these agreements.
China is increasing its influence in the Pacific through various tactics, including financing local politicians and offering military support, as U.S. attention drifts.
Pacific Island leaders express frustration with U.S. delays and broader concerns over climate change and militarization, fearing U.S. objectives may diverge from their own.
Bipartisan support exists for funding the agreements, but bureaucratic delays and disagreements over budget allocations hinder progress.
Pacific leaders seek cooperation and emphasize climate change as an existential threat, wary of becoming pawns in geopolitical competition.