It is not the first time for Palau's legislators to show interest in having a US military base set up on the island. Photo: 123RF
The Palau National Congress is still divided on whether or not the United States military should have an increased presence in the country.
Last month, the House of Delegates approved a joint resolution proposing the legislature support the establishment of a US military base, listing a number of flow-on benefits for locals.
These included improved infrastructure and telecommunications.
However, the resolution is the complete opposite of one put forward by the Senate last year, expressing concern about the US being invited to deploy missile batteries on the island.
RNZ Pacific's Palau correspondent, Onerung Kambes Kesolai, said the differing views in Congress reflect the political landscape in an election year.
"This resolution also comes at a time when [we have the elections]. So I'm looking at this as also it has political expediency...just to position [politicians] to try to get support from the public."
Kesolai said US investment in infrastructure and telecommunication industry, as well as the presence of the American military personnel has been "on of those ideas" to assist Palau's post-Covid-19 economic recovery efforts.
He said Palau's Congress - made up of the House of Delegates and the Senate - have been at odds with each other.
"Last year, there was the Senate introduced a resolution expressing its concern about Palau inviting the United States to deploy its missile batteries on the island...and that's basically they did not like any further US expansion on the island.
"Now we have this house of delegates who are just doing the opposite and they come with this pro-US military build-up on the island.
"And if you look at the partnership, right now, our President [Surangel Whipps Jr] also has expressed interest in US coming into the island and build up its facilities because he believes that when the US comes in, they can help Palau build its road, expand the airport, expand the seat port."
He said Palau cannot afford to carry out such major infrastructure development, but with the help of the US military it becomes possible to move ahead with those projects.
He said it is not the first time for Palau's legislators to show interest in having a US military base set up.
In 2020, during President Tommy Remengesau Jr administration, the US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper under President Trump visited Palau - the first time that high-level US government official visited the island.
"But when he came, President Remengesau took advantage of his visit and then delivered a letter to him and requested the US military to come into the island and build dual-use facilities, meaning that United States come in and and invest in infrastructure improvements and upgrades [to] the airport and seaport, those are considered dual-use facilities where the civilians and US military can both use them."
Kesolai said that since that visit there has been an "increased military presence" and "large scale military exercises" on the island.
He said at this point that the House of Delegates has approved the joint resolution and it has been transmitted to the Senate.
"The resolution encourages the President to work with the United States government to establish a United States military base in Palau.
"And it also gives the President permission to go ahead and start a formal discussion with the United States to establish military bases in Palau, even though Palau has a compact of association with United States defense and security."
However, Kesolai said he does not think that the Senate will pass the resolution.
