by Richard Sanders, Staff Writer
The prime ministers of Tonga and Fiji were among the first leaders from the Pacific Islands to congratulate Donald Trump on his election as US President.
At 78, Trump returned to the White House on Wednesday after securing over the 270 Electoral College votes required for victory, according to projections from Edison Research.
Siaosi Sovaleni, Tonga’s Prime Minister and chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, expressed on X (formerly Twitter) his eagerness to enhance the Tonga-US relationship and support Pacific initiatives.
Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka shared his hopes and prayers that Trump’s new term will bring peace, unity, progress, and prosperity for all Americans and the global community. He also mentioned Fiji’s desire to strengthen its ties with the US and work towards shared goals of promoting peace and economic growth in the Pacific and beyond.
On Thursday, Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape congratulated Trump, expressing anticipation for a reinforced partnership between their countries based on shared values and mutual respect. He also thanked Joe Biden for his service and acknowledged Kamala Harris’s strong campaign for the presidency.
Jeremiah Manele, Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, noted that the American electorate had decisively chosen Trump, highlighting the “special bond of friendship” between the two nations.
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown commented that both the Democratic and Republican parties have similar policies regarding the Indo-Pacific region, suggesting little change is expected. He remarked that the US has re-engaged with the Pacific through enhanced diplomatic representation and increased interactions among people, and from a bipartisan viewpoint, he anticipates continuity in US policy concerning the Indo-Pacific strategy.
