Australian deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to being the “partner of choice” for the Cook Islands and the wider Pacific, as concerns grow over the island nation’s engagement with China.
At a press conference in Canberra, Marles dismissed fears over Cook Islands dealings with Beijing, insisting Australia and New Zealand remain the key allies.
“We’ve worked very closely with Cook Islands and New Zealand, and what we seek to demonstrate is that Australia and New Zealand are the partners of choice,” Marles said. “That has to be the continued posture we maintain across the Pacific.”
Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy echoed Marles’ stance, deflecting concerns by pointing to New Zealand’s role in overseeing Cook Islands affairs.
“As a New Zealand realm territory, these are matters best directed to the government of New Zealand,” Conroy said. “But I utterly agree that our relationship with Cook Islands is very strong.”
On the freeze of U.S aid to the Pacific, Conroy sidestepped concerns that Washington’s pullback could open the door for China to expand its influence.
“Australia is the largest development partner in the Pacific. Last year, we allocated around $2 billion (US$1.25 billion) to the region, and we’ll continue to work with responsible partners,” Conroy said.
When pressed on whether he raised the U.S aid pause during his recent trip to Washington, Marles was tight-lipped.
“We’ve continually advocated to the United States the need for it to play a part in the Pacific,” he said. “To be fair, the U.S has stepped up its game in the region, and we’ll continue to advocate for its role.”
The remarks come as Australia navigates growing geopolitical competition in the Pacific, balancing its own influence against China’s expanding footprint.
