Following the goal of 'stopping' China in the Indo-Pacific, the US announces the opening of an embassy in Vanuatu.
In addition to Vanuatu, other U.S. embassies are on the State Department's list to be opened in Pacific island nations such as Kiribati and Tonga.
Sputnik - In addition to Vanuatu, other U.S. embassies are on the State Department's list to be opened in Pacific island nations such as Kiribati and Tonga.
The US State Department said on Friday (31) that Washington intends to open an embassy in the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, in the latest move to increase its diplomatic presence in the Pacific in order to counter China's growing influence.
"Consistent with the United States' Indo-Pacific strategy, a permanent diplomatic presence in Vanuatu would allow the American government to deepen relations with the authorities and society of Ni-Vanuatu," the department said in a statement quoted by Reuters.
According to the statement, "establishing the U.S. Embassy in Port Vila would facilitate areas of potential bilateral cooperation and development assistance, including efforts to address the climate crisis."
Vanuatu has a population of 319 spread across 80 islands, but is currently represented by diplomats based in Papua New Guinea.
Recently, Washington reopened its embassy in the Solomon Islands after a 30-year absence. The latest announcement from the State Department revealed a visit this month to the region, including Vanuatu, by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Coordinator, Kurt Campbell, according to media reports.
Washington and its regional allies fear that Beijing has ambitions to build a naval base in the region ever since the Solomon Islands signed a security pact with the Chinese last year.
The U.S. has also been working to renew agreements with the Marshall Islands, Palau, and the Federation of Micronesian States, under which it retains responsibility for the defense of the islands and gains exclusive access to large swathes of the Pacific.