Against the backdrop of escalating tensions between China and the United States, the Pentagon is considering building military facilities in Palau.
Palau is an archipelago country, consisting of many small islands with a total area of about 458 square kilometers. Its population is about 20 thousand people.
The U.S. Secretary of Defense visited Palau last week. Later, island state president Tommy Remengesau, Jr. said the United States could establish military bases in Palau.
According to The Guardian, the president himself asked the Pentagon head to use the islands as an anti-Chinese foothold. Although this obviously would not benefit the island nation, it is under the influence of Washington under the Compact of Free Association.
“Palau’s request to the U.S. military remains simple – to build shared facilities and then come and use them regularly”, – The Guardian publishes an excerpt from the letter.
Palau’s president insists on building land bases and military airfields here, although this will escalate tensions in the region.