The United States secretary of the interior, Ryan Zinke, will lead a high-level U.S. government delegation to next week's Pacific Islands leaders' summit in Nauru.
The delegation will include staff from the departments of state, defense and interior, the Coast Guard, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Mr Zinke said "the Pacific Region, including the U.S. territories, are important to America's strategic interests."
He said he wants to advance the US stance on regional order, the rule of law, and free, fair, and reciprocal trade in the region.
US Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke Photo: AFP