To deal with China's influence, US President recognizes two Pacific island nations

US President Joe Biden (right) and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) at the White House on September 25.

The announcement was made at the start of a summit attended by 18 members of the Pacific Islands Forum, AFP reported.

Accordingly, Mr. Biden announced that the Washington administration recognized the Cook Islands and Niue as two "sovereign and independent" states and the US would establish diplomatic relations with these two island nations.

The White House owner affirmed that this is a move that allows maintaining "a free and open Indo-Pacific".

The US president said the agreement to recognize the two island nations also provides US support in efforts to combat illegal fishing, climate change and stimulate economic growth.

The Cook Islands and Niue are both self-governing parliamentary democracies in free association with New Zealand. Despite having a combined population of less than 20,000, both the Cook Islands and Niue possess exclusive economic zones covering a large area of ​​the South Pacific.

For example, the Cook Islands owns an exclusive economic zone that covers 1.8 million square kilometers of ocean.

The importance of Pacific island nations has recently been recognized as the US and China seek to increase their influence in the region.

In particular, China is stepping up its economic, political and military footprint in this strategic sea area.

Taking place over two days, September 25-26, the Pacific Islands Forum summit marks the second time Mr. Biden has invited leaders in the South Pacific to the White House, following the first time in September 2022.

The White House said most members of the forum sent leaders or foreign ministers to the summit. However, AFP noted the absence of Manasseh Sogavare, the prime minister of the Solomon Islands, who has had close ties with Beijing in recent times.

According to Reuters, Vanuatu Prime Minister Sato Kilman also did not attend the conference. China is currently Vanuatu's largest creditor.

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