The US appears to be re-engaging with the Pacific as it invests in Cook Islands infrastructure.

New Zealand's pledged to co-invest with the US to build a port on the Penrhyn atoll in the Cooks, a former military base.

China had been interested in seabed mining in the area.

Otago University International Relations expert Robert Patman told Ryan Bridge the Trump administration hasn't shown a lot of interest in the Pacific until now.

He says what it is interested in is combatting China, so this is an incentive for them to get back to being much more active in the region.

PM Christopher Luxon is travelling to Palau for the Pacific Islands Forum today.

LISTEN ABOVE

The US appears to be re-engaging with the Pacific as it invests in Cook Islands infrastructure.
New Zealand's pledged to co-invest with the US to build a port on the Penrhyn atoll in the Cooks, a former military base.
China had been interested in seabed mining in the area.
Otago University International Relations expert Robert Patman told Ryan Bridge the Trump administration hasn't shown a lot of interest in the Pacific until now.
He says what it is interested in is combatting China, so this is an incentive for them to get back to being much more active in the region.
PM Christopher Luxon is travelling to Palau for the Pacific Islands Forum today.
LISTEN ABOVE

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Robert Patman: Otago University International Relations expert on the US re-engaging with the Pacific

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/02024133-63b3-4a10-b4fa-b4b8012bac7c/transcript