U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee discusses Compacts of Free Association

U.S. strategy in the Pacific Islands region was the focus of a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing today. And the newly-signed Compacts of Free Association were among the key topics. Top State and Defense Department officials testified on the strategic importance of the Pacific region.

They said the recent 20-year extension of the Compacts of Free Association were vital. Assistant defense secretary for IndoPacific security affairs Ely Ratner said, "Providing the necessary funding was one of the most important things congress could do this year to advance our priorities in the IndoPacific.

"These agreements provides assured access for our operations and they prevent would be adversaries from accessing sovereign FAS land, air space and territorial waters. The bottom line is that the Compacts help secure part of the IndoPacific that is larger than the United States," he added.

The deals provide some $7.1 billion in assistance to the FSM, Palau and the Marshall Islands over the next 20 years. It comes at a time, officials say, when "China is drawing from a range of coercive tools in an attempt to erode longstanding U.S. partnerships, and advance Beijing's own influence."  

But republican senator Mitt Romney says what the Chinese are doing is working, noting, "I mean, you look a the things they do and its a comprehensive plan and it appears to be a very effective strategy.  If we have a strategy to counter China, it's not working."

Meanwhile, he said the State Department has yet to deliver on a comprehensive China strategy called for in a law he co-sponsored. Assistant secretary of state for Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink said, "I'm confident that we have a strategy, I'm confident that our China strategy is succeeding, has been successful and is succeeding, but this is an unprecedented challenge, but i commit to being responsive to your request, senator."

Senator romney said the report has been due since June of 2022.