Former Australian ambassador to the US Arthur Sinodinos (left) greets Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on his arrival in San Diego on March 11 ahead of the AUKUS announcement.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“America is not a deadbeat nation,” Biden said today as he departed for Hiroshima. “We pay our bills. The nation has never defaulted on its debt and never will.”
“I’ve spoken to the Australian leader Albanese and I’ll be seeing him at the G7 … The Quad members will be there and we’ll get a chance to talk separately at the meeting.”
Biden’s trip to Papua New Guinea was particularly significant as it would have marked the first time a US president visited the island nation, and comes as China steps up its influence in the region.
This was evidenced last year with the signing of a new pact between China and Solomon Islands, which took place as the American delegation was en route to discuss the issue with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s government.
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The move sent shock waves through Washington, and sparked calls for the US to lift its game to help safeguard the area.
On Monday, PNG Prime Minister James Marape said that while the US had traditionally been a “silent” security partner to his nation, the countries would be signing two security pacts – one on defence co-operation and another on maritime surveillance – in a symbol that America was bolstering its efforts in the region.
“The USA has been a strong security partner of us, but silent, almost deep at the back. Now for the first time they are stepping out, coming to the front, engaging with PNG like never before,” he told local radio station 100FM.
Preparations for Biden’s visit began six months ago and included plans to designate next Monday as a public holiday to allow residents to catch a glimpse of the president. Airspace and roads were set to shut down and ceremonial dancers were primed to welcome the presidential motorcade. Biden had been scheduled to meet 18 Pacific island leaders there.
Joe Biden with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, centre, and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape in Washington last year.Credit: AP
Speaking on Air Force One en route to Japan this afternoon, Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan acknowledged that the nation was “obviously disappointed that the president will not be the first-ever president of the United States to go to Papua New Guinea.”
However, he told reporters that the president would convene all Pacific national leaders for a summit later this year, “which will be the second time in 12 months he has done that”.
A similar summit took place in Washington last September, where Biden pledged an extra $US810 million to address issues such as climate change, maritime security, the pandemic response and economic recovery.
Sullivan said that despite parts of Biden’s trip being cancelled, the US felt “extremely good” about its position in the Indo-Pacific. He added that the notion China was happy about decision did not reflect reality.
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The Pacific Islands span 40 million square kilometres of ocean, where vital sea lanes and submarine cables link the US to its allies Australia and Japan. But leaders there had complained to the US of being seen as “fly over” countries.
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