Radewagen congratulates Palau President Whipps

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Delegate Uifa’atali Amata Radewagen (R-A. Samoa) is congratulating President Surangel Whipps Jr., reelected recently to another term leading the Republic of Palau. Under his leadership, Belau is a staunch ally of the United States, and last year he led their diplomatic efforts for a new Compact of Free Association 20-year agreement so that the island nation remains one of the Freely Associated States.

“I’m pleased with the return of President Whipps as his leadership is important to both the U.S. and Belau, and he has stood strong on shared values despite economic enticement and diplomatic pressures from China,” said Radewagen. “I look forward to continuing to work with him in ongoing implementation of the COFA, upholding the U.S. federal role and obligations, and building on the accomplishments of earlier this year in passing COFA implementation through Congress following extensive negotiations.”

“This close alliance and relationship between the U.S. and the Republic of Palau, as with the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, is essential to their long-term freedom and U.S. strategic necessities to keep the vast Pacific region stable, secure and open for our trading partnerships. Congratulations to President Whipps as he leads the Republic of Palau forward over the next four years, takes on the challenges that many island nations face, and works with the United States to our mutual interests.”

Radewagen served as chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee’s Task Force on the Indo-Pacific, which conducted oversight and led passage of the COFA legislation in the 118th Congress. She also served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including the Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific as vice vhairman. She is a co-chairman of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus, a bipartisan caucus to focus on Pacific Islands issues.

Radewagen has a lifelong familiarity with the Freely Associated States, related regional issues, and life in various Pacific Islands nations, having spent time in many of them, dating back to her father’s several groundbreaking leadership roles throughout the Pacific, especially in this case, his time as deputy and then acting high commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in the post-World War II era. (PR)