In the face of escalating threats in the region, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI) House Floor Leader Edwin Propst said Guam and the Northern Marianas must join hands in preparing the island communities for any potential conflict.
“We have the ideas, the determination and the ability to succeed so long as we work together hand in hand, ensuring that we look after each other,” Propst said Thursday at the opening of the Mariana Islands Legislature Association’s second general assembly at the Guam Congress Building.
“It is important that we stay unified with one voice, with one heart, with one Marianas,” he added.
As the most forward U.S territories in the Pacific, Guam and CNMI are considered critical to U.S defence and power projection across the region.
The Guam missile defence system is a top homeland defence priority for the Indo-Pacific Command and is central to enabling robust theater logistics, according to a Tactical Decision Aid document prepared and released last year by the Indo-Pacom’s Joint Operational Law Team
“Sea Ports in Guam and CNMI are a three-day sail from Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan, and a seven-day sail from Hawaii. Airports in Guam, Saipan and Tinian enable direct flights to and from the U.S” the document noted.
The Department of Defenxe is building a divert airfield on Tinian.
The Indo-Pacom report acknowledged that Guam and the CNMI are facing conventional threats from China. “Specifically, both Guam and CNMI are within the 2500-mile firing range of the DF-26 intermediate ballistic missile dubbed the ‘Guam Killer’ in Chinese media outlets,” the report said.
Propst warned that the growing regional tensions “put every one of us in the Marianas at risk if a war, God forbid, breaks out. We pray that that never happens, but we must always be prepared,” he added.
For better preparations, Propst said Guam and CNMI leaders must hold more regular meetings. “The outcome of the meetings benefits us all when we are able to achieve affordable transportation between our islands,” he added.
At the MILA assembly held from 10 – 12 July, Guam and CNMI lawmakers tackled regional issues affecting both jurisdictions including airfare costs, labor and healthcare, among others.
“This assembly stands as a testament to our collective commitment to the progress and well-being of our beloved Mariana Islands,” Speaker Therese Terlaje of the Guam legislature, said in her opening remarks.
“Our presence here today reflects our shared dedication to addressing the diverse and evolving needs of our communities, and in the face of challenges we continue to demonstrate resilience, innovation and unwavering spirit of cooperation” she added.
“This assembly is not just a platform for dialogue but a beacon of our unity and our shared vision for a brighter future as we deliberate on the various matters at hand let us remember that our decisions and actions will shape the lives our constituents and its our duty to ensure that their voices are heard; their needs are met; their dreams are given the opportunity to flourish,” she said.
CNMI Senator Donald Manglona, for his part, said discussions at the assembly “are crucial not just for our individual territories but for the collective future of the Marianas.”
He said the CNMI team welcomed its partnership with Guam in dealing with common issues such as environmental sustainability, economic development and cultural preservation.
“With this continuous engagement and proactive collaboration, it is essential to make lasting progress,” he added. “We look forward to frequent assemblies on ongoing dialogue to achieve our shared goals so together we can create a brighter more prosperous future for our Marianas, said Senator Manglona.
