Security and the Pacific Islands: Insight from Young Pacific Leaders Report Launch

As geopolitical competition intensifies and challenges such as climate change, maritime security, and cybersecurity continue to shape the Pacific, Pacific perspectives on how to strengthen U.S.-Pacific Island relations are often missing from policy conversations in Washington. In fall 2025, the Australia Chair convened a U.S. Department of State Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Workshop on Regional Security in Port Vila, Vanuatu, bringing together emerging leaders from across the region to examine issues spanning multiple facets of security - from governance and resilience to economic and cyber. As part of the dialogue, participants wrote essays describing a national or regional security issue of their choosing, and suggested new ways that the United States, alongside Australia, New Zealand and other nations, can partner to tackle regional security challenges. 

Please join CSIS Senior Adviser and Australia Chair Dr. Charles Edel and Senior Fellow and Deputy Director with the Australia Chair Kathryn Paik as they discuss the launch of a report compiling these essays with three of the authors: Associate Professor of Political Science, CHamoru Studies, and Micronesian Studies at the University of Guam, Dr. Kenneth Kuper; Disaster Community Resilience Program Coordinator at the Pacific Community, Marilyn Simmons; and Principal Policy Analyst within Samoa's Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Romario Pose, at 5:00 PM ET on May 26. 

This event is made possible through support from the U.S. Consulate in Auckland, New Zealand.