Pagp Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On the margins of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Meeting, the American Samoa Delegation attended a private dinner and strategic roundtable hosted by the Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau. The working session initiated dialogue on aligning federal Pacific engagements with territorial economic development, critical infrastructure needs and regional security. 

In concurrent regional representation, Special Envoy Salanoa Ricky Salanoa attended a separate official dinner hosted by the Palau Minister of Foreign Affairs for PIF leaders.

The dialogue brought together the Governor of Guam,  Lourdes “Lou” Leon Guerrero, American Samoa Head of Delegation Folasaitu Sorepa Fata Thomas, Assistant Director of Port Administration Michael McDonald, U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin E. Lundy, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular, International and Ocean Affairs Bill W. Hague, senior leadership from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USPACOM) and officials from the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Energy. 

Conversations focused on post-PIF observations, regional stability, maritime border security and initial steps for interagency coordination.

During the exchange, Folasaitu emphasized that territorial advocacy for federal assistance is centered on addressing acute local cash flow constraints and securing non-debt grant financing for modern infrastructure.

 Because the territory cannot afford to service additional loans at this time, discussions highlighted the need to build sustainable economic foundations that generate local revenue. To support this goal, the Delegation outlined the value of pursuing elevated participation in the Pacific Islands Forum to engage directly in regional technical dialogues, including vocational technical training and workforce development, subsea telecommunications connectivity, law enforcement cooperation, sports programs and initiatives for women and children.

The Delegation reaffirmed that while bilateral foreign agreements remain under federal jurisdiction (requiring close synchronization between the Department of State and the Department of the Interior), federal Pacific strategies benefit from viewing American Samoa as a strategic southern hub. 

Aligning federal foreign aid with territorial capital development allows the U.S. to leverage American Samoa's regional proximity while safeguarding its indigenous status and traditional governance.

Discussions on regional digital resilience will evolve into direct working talks, with the Deputy Secretary of State assigning Matt Murray, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, to work directly with the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) CEO and the U.S. Ambassador.

Follow-on discussions will revisit the SAS-2 subsea fiber cable route to explore connecting the Kingdom of Tonga, with technical planning emphasizing deliberate national security and seabed safeguards. Further details regarding existing subsea cable routes and sensitive foreign policy matters remain classified to protect ongoing planning.

Interagency dialogue with DOI Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Hague and Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Lundy centered on future coordinated steps to reinforce maritime domain safety and coastal security. Operational enforcement specifics concerning counter-narcotics will remain confidential to safeguard security and future interagency efforts. 

Additionally, Deputy Director of Port Administration McDonald and the Delegation highlighted structural deterioration at the Port of Pago Pago, initiating conversations on federal funding to address the port's role as a vital commercial supply lifeline and an indispensable dual-use operational base supporting Coast Guard operations and regional readiness.

Upon concluding engagements in Palau, the Delegation will provide a comprehensive executive briefing to the Governor. That briefing will guide upcoming consultations with the Attorney General, the Acting Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety and federal counterparts as these initial discussions evolve into interagency working groups and formal planning sessions.