Pacific Partnership Act

This bill aims to deepen U.S. work with Pacific Island nations and communities. It calls for a clear plan to support peace, security, and prosperity, while respecting each nation’s independence. It encourages close cooperation with regional groups like the Pacific Islands Forum and with allies such as Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and Taiwan.

It requires a “Strategy for Pacific Partnership” by January 1, 2026, and again by January 1, 2030. The plan must set goals for diplomacy, defense, and economic ties; assess threats like natural disasters, illegal fishing, outside military activity, development hurdles, and economic coercion; explain how to respond; and outline needed resources. The plan should be developed with input from Pacific governments, regional organizations, civil society, U.S. allies, and U.S. Pacific territories and states . The bill also allows the U.S. to extend standard protections given to international organizations to the Pacific Islands Forum, and pushes formal coordination with partners so aid programs do not overlap and match local needs and goals. It updates federal reports to include regional problems that affect the Pacific Islands—covering drugs, illegal fishing, and human trafficking—and adjusts an Indo-Pacific report to reflect current guidance for the region.

• Who is affected: Pacific Island nations, territories, and other jurisdictions in Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia; regional organizations; civil society; U.S. agencies; and U.S. Pacific territories and states .
• What changes: A required regional strategy; stronger coordination with allies and regional groups; possible U.S. legal protections for the Pacific Islands Forum; annual reporting on regional crime, illegal fishing, and trafficking .
• When: Strategy due by Jan 1, 2026 and Jan 1, 2030; annual report updates going forward; coordination processes to be set up as part of implementation .