Palau - Military

Palau has no regular military forces. The Ministry of Justice includes divisions/bureaus for public security, police functions, and maritime law enforcement. Under the 1994 Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US until 2044 is responsible for the defense of Palaus and the US military is granted access to the islands, but it has not stationed any military forces there. Unexploded ordnance (UXO) from World War II remains a problem in Palau. Although the majority of the land-based UXO is found on the island of Peleliu, UXO can be found almost on any island in Palau. Underwater UXO may also present a threat. Tourists are advised to heed all warnings on areas that might be affected.

US troops have been rotating in and out of a small Southeast Asian island nation for more than 40 years, and on 28 August 2020 they got their inaugural visit by a Pentagon boss. Defense Secretary Mark Esper toured a civil affairs compound and met with top government officials as part of the first-ever visit by a U.S. SECDEF, though the relationship between Palau and the military dates back decades. “There are so many Palauans who serve in the American armed forces, at a much higher rate than any state in the United States,” Esper said. A country of more than 300 island and roughly 20,000 residents, about 500 of its citizens serve in the U.S. military, more than twice the rate of American citizens, which is currently about 1 percent.

Seabees have been rotating in as the 13-man Civic Action Team Palau for decades. Based at Camp Katuu - literally, Palauan for “cat” - they help build local projects like playgrounds, but also offer free repairs for broken-down vehicles, during six-month rotations. In recent years, CAT Palau has expanded to include Army and Air Force engineering/construction units. Palau’s president Tommy Remengesau Jr later revealed he had told Esper the US military was welcome to build facilities in his country. “Palau’s request to the US military remains simple - build joint-use facilities, then come and use them regularly,” the president’s letter said.

The note, addressed to Esper and marked "by hand delivery, Koror. Palau," said the nation of 22,000 was open to hosting land bases, port facilities and airfields for the US military. Remengesau also suggested a US Coast Guard presence in Palau to help patrol its vast marine reserve, which covers an area of ocean the size of Spain and is difficult for the tiny nation to monitor.

Australia is stepping up in the Pacific and continuing to deepen engagement with regional partners with the handover of a new Guardian-class Patrol Boat to the Republic of Palau. The vessel, PSS President HI Remeliik II, was received by Palauan Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Emerson Nobuo at a COVID-safe ceremony in Henderson, Western Australia, celebrating the latest milestone under the Pacific Maritime Security Program.

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the new Guardian-class Patrol Boat demonstrates Australia’s enduring partnership with Palau and our shared commitment to regional maritime security. “Australia and Palau have worked closely to prepare for the delivery of the new vessel, which represents a significant boost to Palau’s maritime capability and to the region’s maritime security,” Minister Reynolds said. “Our ability to unite to advance shared goals in this challenging COVID-19 environment is a testament to the strength of our partnership. The crew’s commitment to the training program with our Navy personnel and our industry partners at Austal has been exceptional, and we are proud to host them here in Australia.”

Assistant Defence Minister and Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Alex Hawke MP said the Guardian-class Patrol Boats make an important contribution to regional security. “The Palau vessel is the seventh Guardian-class Patrol Boat delivered to our Pacific partners under the Pacific Maritime Security Program,” Minister Hawke said. “This Program, which is the successor to the Pacific Patrol Boat Program, proudly continues a 60 year commitment to the Pacific and to regional maritime security.”

Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price said she was pleased to represent the Australian Government at today’s handover to see how the Pacific Maritime Security Program also supported Australia’s defence industry. “Construction of the patrol boats in Perth demonstrates that manufacturing is alive and well in Australia, with work at Austal Australia supporting some 400 direct and indirect local jobs,” Minister Price said. “Defence industry projects like this one are a great jobs success story and provides a reminder of the importance of the role that such companies play in supporting both our economy and defence capability.”