U.S. Partnership with the Republic of the Marshall Islands

The United States reaffirms its enduring partnership with the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), grounded in shared values, mutual respect, and a dedication to regional safety and prosperity. Under the Compact of Free Association (COFA), this partnership consists of sturdy protection cooperation, granting the United States unique entry to protection websites within the Marshall Islands and the authority to disclaim entry to third-country militaries.  During the go to of U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo to Majuro, the 2 nations celebrated the implementation of the COFA and introduced a collection of initiatives that underscore the United States’ steadfast dedication to the RMI and the broader Indo-Pacific area.  Together, the United States and the RMI will proceed to strengthen their partnership, handle shared challenges, and construct a way forward for safety and prosperity. 

• New Parliament Building: The U.S. Department of State introduced that, working with Congress, the United States will present $13 million in funding towards rebuilding the Nitijela, the RMI’s parliament constructing that lately burned down, at the side of assist from Taiwan.  This funding displays the U.S. dedication to serving to RMI rebound from this tragedy. 

• State Partnership Program (SPP) within the Republic of Marshall Islands: The U.S. Department of War will coordinate with the U.S. Department of State to ascertain new SPP pairings between the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the National Guards of Guam and Nebraska.  These National Guard models will leverage their energy in cyber safety, counter-narcotics, and maritime area consciousness to align U.S. Indo-Pacific Command traces of effort with RMI protection priorities.   

• Advancing Security and Border Protection:  The United States and the RMI are finalizing an Enhanced Shiprider Agreement, which can bolster efforts to fight unlawful, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, safe the RMI’s unique financial zone (EEZ), and shield its borders by way of interagency coaching and counter narcotics efforts.  To additional improve border safety, the United States will present superior port scanners to detect and deter smuggling and different illicit actions. 

• Investing in Infrastructure and Public Safety: Recognizing the important want for life-saving infrastructure and within the wake of the Nitijela tragedy, the U.S. Department of State plans to offer a state-of-the-art firetruck to deal with main security issues within the RMI.  In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will fund repairs to current tools and buy security gear for first responders.  The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has accredited funding for mission scoping providers to provoke the infrastructure enchancment course of for the strategically essential Delap Dock.  These enhancements will assist U.S. navy readiness and strengthen the RMI’s infrastructure. 

• Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience:  In coordination with Taiwan and the Marshall Islands, the U.S. Department of State is offering $8.3 million to assist change Air Marshall Islands’ growing old fleet and supply catastrophe aid capability and connectivity to outer islands, together with Kwajalein Atoll, the place the United States has important navy belongings.  This initiative will improve transportation hyperlinks throughout the RMI’s huge geography, facilitating financial growth and humanitarian efforts.   

• Effective Implementation of the Compact: The U.S.-RMI relationship is mirrored by the COFA, which has helped each nations deepen a detailed bilateral relationship primarily based on shared values and robust ties.  Implementation of the lately amended COFA is underway, with notable benchmarks reached in latest months equivalent to collectively approving belief fund distributions for Marshallese residents and dealing in direction of a strategic plan for using Compact-related grants in sectors equivalent to well being, schooling, and infrastructure.  The governments of the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands labored collectively to develop plans for using roughly $100 million in financial help grants and Trust Fund distributions in a significant step in direction of guaranteeing that the Compact will assist and profit the folks of the Marshall Islands and the United States. 

• Promoting Health, Humanitarian Assistance, and Disaster Relief: The United States reaffirmed its dedication to medical and engineering workouts that can enhance the well being and well-being of the Marshallese folks. The United States additionally introduced plans for a humanitarian help and catastrophe aid train, aligning with COFA obligations to boost the RMI’s catastrophe preparedness. 

• Supporting Law Enforcement and Unexploded Ordnance Clearance: The United States will present drug testing kits to assist legislation enforcement investigations and prosecutions. Additionally, the United States will fund WWII unexploded ordnance (UXO) coaching for police, constructing on latest WWII UXO clearance efforts.  The United States has concluded profitable WWII UXO deployments to Maloelap, Wotje, and Jaluit Atolls, with UXO elimination deployments to Mili Atoll scheduled for 2026.