We have been looking forward to this for a long time. It's wonderful to welcome you all. We gather leaders of Pacific islands We know the summer honors a deep history of our nations' shared longstanding trade and diplomatic relationships and a shared fight to defend freedom and among our peoples helped bring an end to buddy wanted in the Pacific during World War Two, and today's summit is also about keeping an ongoing commitment to each other and our shared future. Our commitment to tackling the climate crisis, which threatens all of us. We're seeing the consequences of climate change around the world vividly, including in the United States right now, and I know your nations feel it acutely. We're also committed to working together to equitably rebuild the global economy in the wake of COVID-19 and this war. Go to ensure the end of the Pacific reasons for an open one that is stable and prosperous and resilient and secure. Much of the history of our world is going to be written indent opus Pacific over the coming years and decades, and the Pacific islands are a critical voice in shaping that future, and that's why my administration has made it a priority to strengthen our partnership with your countries and with the Pacific islands. Last year, Vice President Harris shared our vision for cooperation with the Pacific islands. We also launched the Partners in the Blue Pacific initiative, kind of poetically another partner in the Blue Pacific, but it's a real issue we really care about to more effectively coordinate with our allies and partners around the world to better meet the needs of the people across the Pacific. That's why at this historic summit we're making additional concrete commitments and we're launching our Pacific partnership strategy, the first national US strategy for a Pacific island which is a key component to us broader enterprise into Pacific strategy Roseau announcing more than $110 million in expanded US programs to improve lives of Pacific Islanders which includes over 330 million and new investments to support climate resilience and the build sustainable blue economies in the Pacific islands prepare for climate impacts on public health and food security and the strength then sustainable development also to build up better early warning capacities to predict prepare for and respond to climate hazard it's gonna build on approximately 375 million in climate programs are currently having the region we're also taking several important diplomatic steps but I'm proud to announce the following consultations we will recognize the Cook Islands and me away as sovereign states and we look forward to successful people including negotiations for a compact free association with three of our closest partners in the region Federated states of Micronesia Republic of the Marshall Islands and republican United States is committed to consulting with all of you and engaging collaboratively at every turn because it's very much in our interest as well as I hope you're that's what this summit is all about and with your permission I'd also like to briefly address the shoes transparent effort by Russia to annex parts of it neighboring Ukraine United States I want to be very clear about this United States will never never never recognize Russia's claim on Ukraine sovereign territory this so-called referendum was a sham an absolute sham results were manufactured in Moscow and yeah true will have Ukrainian people is clear every day it's just sacrificed their lives to save the people in maintaining the pensive their country and then the fence freezing as well Russia's assault on Ukraine ambition is a plague play group violation of the unit chart and the basic principles of sovereignty and territory protectors I'm grateful to the Pacific island leaders are standing up for these basic and for your strong moral leadership on global issues as United Nations I'm looking forward to hearing from all of you.
