Australia, the Southwest Pacific, and United States Interests (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Jan. 7, 2004 |
| Report Number |
RL32187 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Thomas Lum and Bruce Vaughn, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The major U.S. interests in the Southwest Pacific are preventing the rise of terrorist threats,
working
with and maintaining the region's U.S. territories, commonwealths, and military bases (American
Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Reagan Missile Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll
in the Marshall Islands), and enhancing U.S.-Australian cooperation in pursuing mutual political,
economic, and strategic objectives in the area. The United States and Australia share common
interests in countering transnational crime and preventing the infiltration of terrorist organizations
in the Southwest Pacific, hedging against the growing influence of China, and promoting political
stability and economic development. The United States has supported Australia's increasingly
proactive stance and troop deployment in Pacific Island nations torn by political and civil strife such
as East Timor, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Australia may play a greater strategic
role in the region as the United States seeks to redeploy its Asia-Pacific force structure. This report
will be updated as needed.
