Pacific Island leaders want respectful dialogue in the region when it comes to the growing military presence in the region. Their recent meeting comes days before the first-ever U.S. Pacific Islands Country Summit in D.C. with President Joe Biden.

The recent Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders focused on climate change, but it’s hard to ignore the growing presence of the U.S. defense force in the region. KUAM asked the chair of the conference President of the FSM David Panuelo and Hawaii Gov. David Ige about the military’s growing reach.

"What leaders agreed to is that there really needs to be respectful dialogue and discussion with all of the Pacific Island nations so that we can ensure continued peace in the area and rules-based law and order," he said.

Pres. David Panuelo of the Federated States of Micronesia said, "We of course discussed in preserving the rules-based international order. I think that is very important in keeping the Pacific very safe. And I think it is something that every country, big or small, will need to uphold and respect so that our world can live in peace."

Those rules will perhaps be part of the conversation with President Biden at the first U.S.-Pacific Island Country Summit in D.C. at the end of this month. A statement from the White House says the summit will focus on a range of issues from climate change, maritime security, and a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Panuelo added, "What we are asking U.S. is to be very inclusive as we go in as a Pacific region to advance regionalism because the Pacific being one as family is important to advance issues that are most important to our communities."

Independent Pacific Island countries that make up the Pacific Islands Forum will attend. Guam and the CNMI are not members of the forum. KUAM has reached out to the governor of Guam and CNMI governor for comment.