US Pushes Critical Minerals Agenda In Cook Islands With New Penrhyn Port

RNZ’s Teuila Fuatai in Koror,
Palau

The United States and New Zealand will co-fund a
new “lifeline” port with the Cook Islands on Penrhyn atoll –
a former US military base.

The US says it will commit
$50 million USD, while New Zealand will contribute $10
million USD.

The US Deputy State Secretary Christopher
Landau said it builds on the Critical
Minerals Framework that the Cooks signed with the US in
February, which advances the keen interest from Washington
in deep sea mineral resources in the Cook
Islands.

“This project underscores the United States’
strong commitment to our partners in the Pacific,” Landau
said, noting that U.S. personnel constructed Penrhyn’s port
and airstrip over 80 years ago.

“Through
transformational infrastructure initiatives such as this, we
are making the United States and our partners safer,
stronger, and more prosperous.”

Cook Islands Prime
Minister Mark Brown called the port a “lifeline” for the Pa
Enua, adding capacity for domestic shipping and inter-island
travel.

“We thank the United States and New Zealand
for partnering with us to deliver on a priority our people
have themselves identified,” Brown said.

Landau, Brown
and New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters made the
announcement at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in
Palau this morning.

The February agreement between the
US and the Cooks committed them to “responsible investment
aligned with high environmental, social and governance
standards,” and “the development of secure, diversified and
resilient critical minerals supply chains.”

Prime
Minister Brown told reporters on Friday, while in Auckland
engaging
with New Zealand realm leaders, that he would ensure the
Cook Islands people were the ultimate benefiaciries of US
investment.

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