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Indo-Pacific Commander briefs Uifa’atali Amata on state of Pacific region

Congresswoman Amata and Admiral Aquilino
Source: Media release from Cong. Uifaatali Amata's office

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata met last week with Admiral John C. Aquilino, Commander, Indo-Pacific Command, and received a briefing on the state of the Pacific region. The briefing encompassed a broad range of issues affecting American Samoa, U.S. territories, the Freely Associated States, and the Pacific region as a whole. USINDOPACOM has vital roles throughout the region, including support relied on by American Samoa, Guam, CNMI, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.

“I appreciate the highly informative briefing, and a sense of the immense responsibility of this extensive command region, which covers more area of the globe than any other,” said Congresswoman Amata. “American Samoa remains a strategic location, and I believe our port, airport and other infrastructure should always be maintained and developed with readiness in mind as a crossroads in the Pacific.”

“This region includes many areas and situations that must be thoroughly monitored, and often demand a strong U.S. and allied presence nearby. Circumstances can quickly form that could impact national security, food and fuel supply chains and much more,” she continued. “It is also a fact that China is a rapidly expanding and ambitious influence in this part of the world, and the U.S. must be thinking ahead to meet all sorts of competitive economic and geopolitical challenges, and maintaining our Pacific alliances and friendships is key.”