Washington, D.C. —  President Surangel Whipps, Jr. has been reelected recently to another term leading the Republic of Palau. Under his leadership, diplomatic efforts for a new Compact of Free Association (COFA) 20-year agreement were successful and 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 Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “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.”

Congresswoman Amata 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 118^th Congress. She also served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including the Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific as Vice Chairman. She is a Co-Chairman of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus, a bipartisan caucus to focus on Pacific Islands issues.

Amata 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.

BACKGROUND

Surangel Samuel Whipps Jr. is a Palauan businessman and politician, who has served as the president of Palau since 2021. He served as senator from 2008 to 2016. He is from the State of Ngatpang and first assumed office as the President of Palau on January 21, 2021.

He was born in the U.S. while his parents were working their way through college in Maryland.