In 2023, the US launched the “7 for 70” Campaign to enhance engagement with the Pacific Islands. The goal is to create seven sister city partnerships with Pacific Island nations by 2026.
The US is pursuing an ambitious initiative to strengthen people-to-people ties with Pacific Island nations. In September 2023, US President Biden announced the “7 for 70” Campaign at the 2023 US-Pacific Islands Forum Summit at the White House.
The “7 for 70” Campaign aims to establish at least seven new sister partnerships with cities in the Pacific Islands by 2026. The campaign celebrates the 70th anniversary of the program hosted by Sister Cities International (SCI), the nonprofit organization that aids the creation and longevity of sister relationships. The campaign is a joint effort between SCI, the US Department of State, and the White House National Security Council.
SCI currently oversees more than 1800 sister relationships in 140 countries. Encouraging citizen diplomacy, these connections not only strengthen diplomatic ties between their nations but also inspire community development programs that benefit both partners.
Sister Cities at a Glance
Sister relationships are official agreements at the city, county, or state level. Sister cities promote “cultural, educational, youth, information and trade exchanges and relationships” between the people of the partnered cities. A city can maintain sister relations with multiple partners.
Even before the “7 for 70” Campaign launch, the US has held multiple sister city relationships with Pacific Island nations. In 2010, a relationship was created between Honolulu, HI, and Majuro, Marshall Islands. Gilroy, CA, has been partnered with Koror City, Palau, since 1994. Additionally, sources dating back to 1996 link Des Plaines, IL, with Nailuva, Fiji.
The effectiveness of sister relationships depends on the partners. A common criticism of sister partnerships is they can be token designations, often failing to produce tangible benefits. An Asia Matters for America report surveyed American elites and found that only 31% of respondents knew of a sister partnership between their locality and an Asian nation – 50% were unsure if their town even had an Asian partner.
However, sister cities are often started or sustained by volunteers, particularly trade delegations between US and Asian partners. Most respondents who were aware and found sister relationships beneficial are businesspeople. Furthermore, 75% of those who stated their locality has an Asian sister city also supported study abroad programs – another major benefit of sister relationships.
Deep Dive into US-Pacific Sister Partners
Since the launch of the “7 for 70” Campaign, the promotion of new sister relationships is well underway. On June 7, 2024, Honolulu, HI, and Avarua, the capital of the Cook Islands, signed into agreement the establishment of a sister city partnership. The agreement highlighted the shared commitment to collaborate on sustainable and regenerative tourism, the protection of natural resources, and educational exchanges, among other goals to deepen community ties. This was the first sister relationship of the campaign.
Also in June 2024, the sister partnership between Poplar, WI, and Madang, Papua New Guinea (PNG) was made official. Madang Governor Ramsey Pariwa and Poplar Village President Leo Naumann co-signed the letter of intent to partner. The US Ambassador to PNG, Ann Marie Yastishock, and SCI Chair-elect Carlo Capua also attended the signing ceremony.
The link between Poplar and Madang is partly driven by Poplar’s local legend, Major Richard I. Bong. A Wisconsin native and top American pilot during World War II, Bong crashed in Madang during the war. The wreckage of Bong’s fighter plane affectionately nicknamed “Marge” was discovered in Madang in May 2024.
Aside from the Poplar-Madang connection, two other sister relationships are planned with PNG cities. SCI is facilitating discussions in the development of partnerships between Port Moresby and Long Beach, CA, as well as between Lae and Charleston, SC. Local universities in each partnered city have already made strides toward cooperation in education.
US-Pacific Diplomacy: A Bigger Picture
Although the significance of the Pacific Islands has only grown, US commitment to the “Blue Pacific Continent” has ebbed and flowed over the past several decades. However, the US has expanded collaboration with Pacific Island nations in recent years.
Alongside the “7 for 70” Campaign, several new diplomatic and developmental efforts were announced at the 2023 Summit. Implementation of these programs continued in 2024. US President Biden recognized the Cook Islands and Niue as sovereign nations, and USAID launched a regional Pacific Mission in Fiji. Additionally, US embassies have been opened in the Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu.
The value of US-Pacific Islands relations should not be understated. Partnership with Pacific Island countries is important for a host of reasons: geopolitical strategy, maritime security, trade and supply chain resilience, and environmental protection, among other benefits.
For example, the Compacts of Free Association (COFA) defines the US’s relationship with the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. COFA outlines several mutual benefits, including economic assistance and the US’s ability to operate military bases in COFA states.
The US also has joint policing efforts with Pacific Island countries to support free and safe waterways, assisting in trade stability. The US holds shiprider agreements with 12 Pacific Island nations, which enable local officials to utilize coast guard assets to enforce maritime law within their territorial waters.
Furthermore, US assistance to Pacific Island nations aims to tackle climate-related challenges. At the 2024 Pacific Island Forum, USAID announced more than $10 million in funding to help climate resilience efforts and disaster relief. Another such example is a grant program to promote Pacific women’s leadership in the climate and energy sector.
With the multitude of initiatives to fortify cooperation between the US and the Pacific Islands, sister partnerships allow Americans to connect with Pacific partners on a local, more personal level. Sister relationships signal the US’s dedication to sustaining engagement with Pacific Island nations – both between governments and between individuals.
Marissa Harrold is a Fall 2024 Young Professional at the East-West Center in Washington. She is a recent graduate from American University’s School of International Service, with a B.A. in International Studies focused on foreign policy in East Asia and the Pacific.