President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. of the Republic of Palau visited the Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters at Camp H.M. Smith, where he participated in an honors ceremony and an office call to discuss combined efforts that promote regional stability, mutual defense priorities and deterrence initiatives, as well as how upholding the rule of law reinforces peace and prosperity on Oct. 11, 2024.
Whipps participated in a USINDOPACOM hosted barge tour on Oct. 12. He paid respects at the USS Arizona memorial.
The Republic of Palau is 340-plus islands strategically placed in the Western Pacific bordering the Philippines. The nation became independent in 1981 and entered a Compact of Free Association with the United States in 1994.
USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region with its allies and partners by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win.
