21 May 2009

Faleomavaega calls on US to engage more in Pacific

7:07 pm on 21 May 2009

American Samoa's member of the US Congress has reiterated his call for the United States to step up its influence in the Pacific.

Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin's comment follows his dialogue about the Pacific with the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last month.

During that talk, Faleomavaega lamented how US influence in the region had receded as Washington had increasingly deferred to the governments of Australia and New Zealand on Pacific issues.

The Congressman says the inept policies and heavy-handed actions of these governments put American interests in the region at risk.

He says the State Department has neglected Oceania, citing the lack of funding for the region in the US administration's proposed budget for the next fiscal year.

Faleomavaega says with more engagement with the Pacific, as well as a fraction of its budget directed towards the region, the US could make a big difference in generating economic growth, strengthening democratic institutions and addressing climate change challenges.

Mrs Clinton has indicated that the US will remain engaged with the Pacific, especially given the emergence of China's regional influence.