The Trump administration's foreign policy decisions have cast doubt on American reliability. Regarding the Blue Pacific, US reliability was already in doubt. Rarely does the US make policy for the Pacific Islands region. When the region is important, it is often in service of some other goal. Occasionally, there are glimmers of hope that American policymakers will make Pacific Islands policy, but they are short-lived. For eight years, Australia has urged Washington to engage more actively in the Pacific Islands region.
Under the Biden administration, there seemed to be a deepening engagement, underscored by two Pacific Island Leaders meeting at the White House. In 2024, the third tranche of funding for the Compacts of Free Association was made available, delivering one key element of US engagement. Other funding initiatives, however, languished. Unsurprisingly, Washington's Pacific engagement has come to a standstill. Will the US re-engage with the Blue Pacific? And what are the consequences for Australia?
