ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the first country case study, that of the United States. In the context of its broader strategic competition with China, over the last five years, the US has considerably increased its focus on the Pacific Islands region. This chapter outlines the contours of the US's statecraft in the region since 2018 and argues that it has consisted of the deployment of tools statecraft in the diplomatic, developmental, and military realms. It concludes by arguing that, while the US has made a significant number of diplomatic gestures and has announced a range of substantial spending programs in the region, implementation of these announcements has been poor, primarily because domestic political divisions have delayed their passage through Congress. Therefore, while Pacific leaders have welcomed the US's re-engagement, the window for its statecraft to successfully build its reputation and relationships remains tight.
