By Tina Mata’afa-Tufele Elise
Peace Corp volunteers are coming back to Samoa and the Pacific region after “a global evacuation in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
American Vice President Kamala Harris told the leaders of the Pacific Forum meeting earlier this month on 12 July 2022 in a virtual address.
“We will return Peace Corps volunteers to the region,” the vice president also told the Forum.
The exact number of the future cohorts and exact arrival dates, for Samoa and the Pacific region are still in the planning stages.
Currently, there are no Peace Corps volunteers in Samoa since the global evacuation in March 2020 but the local office keeps a staff of three.
“After more than two years of careful monitoring, evaluating, adapting, and planning, the Peace Corps is returning volunteers to service globally on a rolling basis until all posts have reopened,” the U.S. Embassy in Apia, Samoa said.
““There are some U.S. Peace Corps staff (3) and local staff positions currently in country,” the U.S. Embassy said.
Samoa Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa was among the prime ministers and presidents who converged in Fiji for the meeting of Pacific leaders.
As Peace Corps volunteers prepare to return to Samoa and the Pacific region, the first ever U.S. Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum awaits a nomination from the White House.
There is “nothing to announce” as far as who has been or will be named to serve as the very first U.S. Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Apia, Samoa.
The U.S. Embassy issued the statement on Friday in response to questions from Newsline Samoa.
Early this month on 12 July, Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris told the 51st Pacific Islands Forum the United States will appoint the first-ever U.S. Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum.
“Nothing to announce on this yet. That will be a nomination that will come out of the White House in the similar process to the nominations and announcements of other Special Envoys, Ambassadors, etcetera,” the U.S. Embassy statement said.
“Volunteers have not returned to other missions in the region yet, but as stated above planning and administrative work for volunteer return is underway.”
U.S. Ambassador to Samoa Thomas S. Udall told reporters in February that they would return Peace Corps volunteers to Samoa and those who served in Samoa cannot wait to return.
Vice President Harris’ remarks at the Pacific Islands Forum on 12 July, 2022, touched on 1.4 million people in the US that have Pacific Islander heritage, many of whom live in California.
“As a daughter of California, I know firsthand the incredible contributions Pacific Islanders have made to our culture and to our country. And we celebrate them, of course, as an integral part of the American story,” the Vice President told the Forum Leaders.
“We recognize that in recent years, the Pacific Islands may not have received the diplomatic attention and support that you deserve. So today I am here to tell you directly: We are going to change that.
“Secretary of State Blinken traveled to Fiji this year and launched our Indo-Pacific Strategy. And in the months and years ahead, we plan to build on this foundation.
We will significantly deepen our engagement in the Pacific Islands. We will embark on a new chapter in our partnership — a chapter with increased American presence where we commit to work with you in the short and long term to take on the most pressing issues that you face.
In recent months, we have discussed many of these issues with you. We have consulted extensively and candidly. The result is a series of actions that are responsive to your priorities and, we believe, will facilitate our engagement moving forward.”
To start, the United States will launch the process to establish two new embassies in the region: one in Tonga, one in Kiribati. We will also appoint the first-ever United States Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum. We will return Peace Corps volunteers to the region. And USAID is taking steps to expand its footprint to include re-establishing a regional mission in Suva, Fiji.
All of these steps will enable us to increase our engagement, and develop and deliver concrete results.
Today, I am also pleased to announce that we plan to triple U.S. funding for economic development and ocean resilience for the Pacific Islands.
We will request from the United States Congress an increase from $21 million per year to $60 million per year for the next 10 years. Sixty million dollars per year for the next 10 years.
These funds will help strengthen climate resilience; invest in marine planning and conservation; and combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; and enhance maritime security.
I heard you speak of the South Pacific Tuna Treaty. Regarding that treaty, we do believe it is a cornerstone of our political and economic cooperation, and we look forward to concluding negotiations.
I want to particularly thank Monica Medina, our Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, for her work on this issue and her leadership. She is with you in Fiji today.
President Biden and I consider our relationship with all of you to be a true partnership and a friendship based on mutual respect, mutual trust, and mutual benefit.
We will engage transparently and constructively, which means we will listen, collaborate, and coordinate at every step of the way. We will also work to empower a strong and united Pacific Islands Forum, which will strengthen your voice on the world stage as we continue to work together.
We will also better coordinate our efforts with allies and partners. And to do that end, we recently launched the Partners in the Blue Pacific, which includes Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and, of course, the United States.
All of this work recognizes that our partnership with the Pacific Islands spans a wide range of issues.
With respect to the climate crisis, for example, you are on the frontlines of an existential crisis for our entire planet. But you are on the frontlines, and the world’s emissions have an outsized impact on your nations.
The evidence, of course, is that sea levels are rising. The coral reefs that protect your islands and foster fisheries are bleaching. And ocean warming is accelerating.
This is why, as we work with the world to reduce emissions, we will continue to partner with you to build resilience, support adaptation, mobilize climate finance, and ensure sustainability of fisheries and marine resources.
We also intend to expand our overall economic relationship with you.
As part of that, we will pursue infrastructure projects that are sustainable, high quality, climate friendly, and, very importantly, that do not result in insurmountable debt.
We will continue to stand with you to address the COVID-19 pandemic and work with you to prepare for the next one.
We will also continue our leadership combatting illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, because we know that it devastates fisheries and coastal states like yours.
We also want to build on our existing work together with regard to food security, with regard to maritime security, education, and disaster relief.
All of this work together presents an extensive agenda, but each of these issues is incredibly important to this region and to the United States.
And there is one last principle that I believe must guide our work.
In this region and around the world, the United States believes it is important to strengthen the international rules-based order — to defend it, to promote it, and to build on it.
These international rules and norms have brought peace and stability to the Pacific for more than 75 years — principles that importantly state that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected; principles that allow all states, big and small, to conduct their affairs free from aggression or coercion.
At a time when we see bad actors seeking to undermine the rules-based order, we must stand united.”
The remarks by Vice President Harris tried to reassure leaders of the region with China increasing closer ties with member island countries.
The US ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy, echoed similar remarks last Friday on arrival at Sydney Airport to take over her new role.
“This is a critical area in the region, and I think the U.S. needs to do more. We’re putting our embassies back in and the Peace Corps is coming, and USAID is coming back and we’re coming back,” she said.
“We haven’t been there for a while, but I think that is all tremendously positive, and I think the U.S. and Australia working together will make a big impact.”
Asked about China’s growing assertiveness in the region, she said her focus was on the U.S. partnership with Australia on issues like security, economic engagement, climate change and health.
“I think that China certainly has a big presence here in the region, but I think our partnership does as well,” she said.