US opens embassy in Vanuatu

U.S. Ambassador Ann Marie Yastishock and Matai Seremaiah Nawalu, Vanuatu’s deputy prime minister and unveil the seal of the U.S. Embassy at the opening ceremony of the U.S. Embassy in Port Vila, Vanuatu, July 19, 2024. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy/ Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan D. McLearnon

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

Port Vila-- The United States officially opened its embassy in Port Vila on July 19 during a ceremony that marked Washington's strengthened ties with Vanuatu.

 "This opening further marks the growth of our relationship with Vanuatu and underlines the strength of our commitment to our bilateral relations, to the Ni-Vanuatu people, and to our partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region," said

Matthew Miller, spokesman for the State Department.

Miller said the embassy's opening builds upon the U.S. government's goal to increase its diplomatic presence and engagement with island governments throughout the Pacific island region.

"We look forward to partnering with the Ni-Vanuatu government on issues such as addressing climate change, growing the economy, and ensuring maritime security, as well as to continuing to build people-to-people ties, as the Peace Corps has done since 1990," Miller said

The United States established diplomatic relations with the government of Vanuatu in 1986.  Ann Marie Yastishock is accredited to Vanuatu as the nonresident Ambassador and leads the diplomatic mission based in Port Vila.