Kennedy and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will open a new US embassy in the capital Honiara during their trip, timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the World War II Battle of Guadalcanal.
After arriving in Australia on Friday, Kennedy said: “I know there’s a lot of work to be done in the Pacific. I’m excited that the Peace Corps is returning to the Pacific Islands after an absence of many years in terms of engagement of the USA”.
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He said the US and Australia have a “big agenda” to pursue together, including greater cooperation in the Pacific.
Kennedy echoed Vice President Kamala Harris, who told the Pacific Islands Forum earlier this month that the Pacific may not have received enough US attention in recent times.
“We’re going to change that,” Harris said.
Kennedy, who served as US ambassador to Japan during the Obama administration, said her first official day as ambassador to Australia was “truly one of the most important days of my life”.
“The United States and Australia are the closest of allies, and we are global partners working for peace and stability, health, security and economic prosperity in this region and beyond,” he said.
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