Guam and Palau have formally sealed a new state partnership, solidifying a significant moment for US-Palau relations.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, along with Palau's president, military, and federal government officials, sat down with local media on the island to discuss what the partnership entails.

President of Palau, Surangel Whipps Jr. shared some thoughts fresh off the heels of inking a state partnership program between Palau and Guam.

“It’s not about bringing war to our island; it’s actually about keeping it out, and that’s what the guard helps us to do,” Whipps said.

The program, administered by the National Guard Bureau, links the Guam National Guard to Palau for disaster preparation and response, among other things, according to Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard, Tony Whitehead.

Whitehead said, “The security that they wanted for their own country and culture, where we can help them to preserve that. and that’s one of the things that’s happening here today…Not just about military, we talk about things like law enforcement, working with the hospitals, working with the infrastructures of the cities, as well as cyber.”

Meantime, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, following President Whipps’ remarks about a stronger military presence for deterrence, saying all are in agreement that preparation and planning are the most logical and reasonable ways to protect their people.

Leon Guerrero remarked, “I know the United States is working towards more diplomatic agreements, and more peace through diplomacy, and democracy–and of course that’s what we want and not war. But, you cannot turn a blind eye to say OK, we will not bring in the missile defense agencies, we will not have a presence in Palau, we will not encourage and work with our Pacific islands to be part of this preparation.”

While Guam already has state partnerships with Hawaii and the Philippines, US Ambassador to Palau, Joel Ehrendreich, said this partnership is the first in the Pacific islands region since 2021–a sign, he said, of how important the island is to the United States.

As Ehrendreich adds, the significance of Palau’s geo-strategic positioning is really starting to come into focus, as Guam, Palau, and the Northern Marianas are closer to regional tensions.