On March 27, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth touched down in Guam, where he visited the US Air Force base and met with US military officials and leaders from Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI). Secretary Hegseth also met with FSM President Wesley Simina where they reached a mutual consensus to plan and construct a new military site on the island of Yap, with future investments expected to reach up to $2 billion. The visit comes as part of his inaugural tour of the Indo-Pacific as defense secretary.
On March 27, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth landed in Guam as part of his inaugural tour of the Indo-Pacific. It was the second stop of his trip, which originally began in Hawaii. While on the island, Hegseth visited Andersen Air Force base, where he met with American troops and senior military leaders and received briefings on current US defense projects and defense capabilities. He also took part in an aerial helicopter tour from the “Island Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 and spoke with seven World War 2 veterans who fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima, whose 80th anniversary was commemorated just one day before Hegseth’s arrival. Hegseth then held meetings with several local leaders including Guam governor Lou Leon Guerrero and CNMI governor Arnold Palacios, where he reaffirmed that the United States would protect its Pacific territories amidst growing regional competition with China. “I want to be very clear to everyone in this room,” Hegseth said. “… Any attack against these islands is an attack against the US. We recognize that, we understand that, and we are committed to that.”
After the meeting, Hegseth also met with the FSM President Wesley Simina, marking the first bilateral engagement between the two countries during the second Trump administration. The two leaders discussed furthering security cooperation and “reached a mutual understanding” to proceed with several US defense projects on the FSM island of Yap, including the US Air Force’s $400 million plan to upgrade the local airport to accommodate US military aircraft. In total, the United States plans to invest at least $2 billion in military infrastructure on Yap to "provide strategic operational and exercise capabilities for US forces.”
The United States is responsible for the regional defense and security of FSM under the Compacts of Free Association (COFA), which was recently renewed for another 20 years in 2024. In addition to providing protection, President Simina also highlighted the efforts of several humanitarian initiatives led by the US military including US Navy Seabees, Pacific Partnership, and Koa Moana that provide crucial development assistance and essential services many communities across the FSM and the broader Pacific Islands region.
Secretary Hegseth’s stopover in Guam marked the beginning of his greater Indo-Pacific tour where he sought to reaffirm the United States' strategic partnerships in the region and reinforce its commitment to countering Chinese influence. With the remainder of Hegseth’s itinerary including visits to the Philippines and Japan, his visit to Guam and meetings with Pacific leaders like President Simina emphasize the important role the Pacific Islands region plays in ensuring peace and security in the Indo-Pacific. “The Secretary's visit underscored the Department of Defense’s commitment to the security of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as the entire Micronesia region’s strategic importance to the Pacific,” said Rear Adm. Brent DeVore, commander of the Joint Region Marianas and the US Naval Forces Marianas.
Considered the “tip of the spear” when it comes to US Indo-Pacific strategy, Guam serves as a key American defense post—hosting over 10,000 US soldiers, an airbase for F-35 fighters and B-2 bombers, and a port for nuclear submarines. Yap Island, on the other hand, is located between Guam and FSM’s fellow COFA state Palau in the western Pacific and has been identified by the US military as a key spot for training activities and increasing US military scope and readiness. According to the Air Force’s budget request submitted to Congress in 2024, the “development of Yap Airport is essential because there are very few divert or contingency airfields available as potential United States defense sites in the region.”
While plans for a new airport and other upgraded infrastructure were welcomed by the FSM national government and the Yap state government, some levels of local concern along with bureaucratic inertia have slowed down negotiations. However, after his meeting with Hegseth, President Simina provided assurance that all US military projects will be implemented with respect to the local customs and traditional leaders as well as to Yap’s “Four Pillars”: environment, safety, maintenance, and social aspects. “The leadership and values of Yap State are guiding this process,” Simina said. “The Four Pillars ensure that this cooperation is not only strategic, but also deeply rooted in local values and long-term benefit for our communities.”
Secretary’s Hegseth brief, but productive visit to Guam underscores the United States’ continued investment and commitment into regional peace and security not just in the Pacific Islands, but the greater Indo-Pacific. “Our goal is [to] achieve peace through strength,” Hegseth said. “By putting America first, that means working with partners and allies throughout the region, reestablishing deterrence and building capabilities right here."
Lois Ramilo is a Spring Young Professional at the East West Center in Washington. She is a recent graduate from the University of California, San Diego where she majored in international relations.