US defenses in the Asia Pacific center on a defense line running from Japan to the Philippines to Taiwan and on to Borneo. The so-called “first island chain.”
Try defending against China along the first island chain without a secure “rear area” in the Central Pacific. And imagine it’s the Chinese in the rear.
American control of the Central Pacific depends on three treaties with three nations: Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Marshall Islands. They are known as Compacts of Free Association (COFA). These nations and their huge maritime territory comprise most of an “east-west corridor” from Hawaii to the western edge of the Pacific. That corridor is essential for American control and military operations in the region.
Invaluable Relationship Secured by Compacts of Free Association
The COFAs give the United States the legal authority to operate freely and to keep other nations’ militaries out. In other words, military access and control.
As part of the agreements, the three nations receive financial and other support from the US. These include the right of citizens to reside and work in America. And one should never forget that COFA state citizens serve in the US military at higher per-capita rates than almost all US states.
The COFA agreements are up for renewal. They have passed the tortuous dozen or so committees and now the agreements just need to be voted on and passed. However, that is very much in doubt.
One issue is $2.3 billion USD in offsets. That means that to fund the COFAs, $2.3 billion has to come out of the federal budget from elsewhere.
The $2.3 billion is over twenty years so it averages out to about $40 million a year for each country. Yes, $40 million. That amounts to a half-hour of Medicaid fraud.
We blew a trillion or two in Afghanistan. And we’re complaining about $120 million a year?
Everyone is blaming everyone else.
Congress blames other parts of the Congress and the White House. The White House blames Congress.
Finding the Money
The White House can find the money if it wants to. It doesn’t. There was in fact an Asia Tsar at the White House National Security Council, Kurt Campbell, who should have made passage of the COFAs his mission. He was the “Tsar” after all. Instead, he bailed out and has failed upwards ー just confirmed as Assistant Secretary of State. That’s par for the course in Washington.
Congress could find the money too, if it wanted. It doesn’t, or it is distracted by “the border,” Ukraine, Gaza, and any number of things.
Maybe the Department of Defense (DOD) could show some initiative and imagination. After all, the COFAs have to do the hard work of defending the Asia-Pacific. Dod could offer to redirect the money from elsewhere in its large budget.
$120 million a year? That’s easy.
Cut DEI programs in DOD and anyone connected with them.
Cut 10% of FOGOs ー that’s “flag officers, general officers.” That’d easily get your money ー and nobody would notice the “flags” were missing.
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