Palau, with a population of 17,000, has a compact of free association with the United States providing economic assistance in return for allowing the U.S. military access to its territory. It received USAID funding for submarine cables and climate change programmes, before most U.S. Agency for International Development staff globally were put on leave.
Citing the Reagan Administration slogan of “peace through strength” that he said “Trump likes too”, Whipps said in an address at the Lowy Institute think tank that Palau’s priority was to ensure it was properly defended.