Washington DC –
President United States of America (AS) Joe Biden stated that his country officially recognized the Pacific countries, Cook Islands and Niue, on Monday (25/9) local time. This recognition was given as the US seeks to ward off influence China in the area.
As reported AFP, Tuesday (26/9/2023), the announcement was made at the start of a summit with the 18-nation Pacific Islands Forum, where the US was the host. US officials said Biden had announced a more assertive American stance in the region.
Biden in his statement said Washington recognized the Cook Islands and Niue as ‘sovereign and independent’ countries, and said he would establish diplomatic relations with the two countries.
This step, said Biden, will help in defending the ‘free and open Indo-Pacific region’.
In his statement, Biden also said that an agreement to recognize the two countries would help curb illegal fishing, address climate change in vulnerable regions and increase economic growth.
The Cook Islands and Niue are known to have populations of less than 20,000 people, but are a large economic zone in the South Pacific region.
Both countries are self-governing and are in ‘free association’ with New Zealand, meaning that both countries’ foreign and defense policies are to varying degrees linked to Wellington’s.
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(nvc/ita)
2023-09-26 07:31:22
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