All articles tagged with #cook islands
A rare sighting of faceless cusk eels, deep-sea fish with reduced facial features and no visible eyes, was made during an expedition in the Cook Islands, highlighting the mysterious and bizarre life forms inhabiting the ocean's depths.
The Cook Islands is actively combating a severe outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish, which threaten coral reefs weakened by climate change, through volunteer efforts to manually remove the starfish and prevent widespread reef destruction.
New Zealand has paused funding to the Cook Islands over recent China-related deals, citing concerns over trust and regional influence, as the Cook Islands seeks to balance its long-standing relationships with Western allies and China amidst regional tensions.
The United States has officially recognized the Cook Islands and Niue as independent states, as President Joe Biden aims to strengthen relationships in the Indo-Pacific region as a counter to China's growing influence. The recognition comes as the Biden administration seeks to deepen engagement with Pacific Island nations and hosted the Pacific Island Forum leaders at the White House. Biden announced new infrastructure funding for Pacific Island partner nations and unveiled plans to improve maritime domain awareness in the Pacific through the Quad partnership. The US also pledged investment in the region for climate change, sustainable development, and military partnerships.
US President Joe Biden is set to announce the opening of new embassies in the Cook Islands and Niue as part of efforts to counter China's influence in the South Pacific. The announcement comes ahead of a summit with Pacific Island leaders, where discussions will focus on climate change. Biden aims to strengthen ties with the Pacific Islands and address global challenges such as climate change and sustainable development. The US has been working to deepen engagement in the region, including opening embassies in the Solomon Islands and Tonga, and renewing agreements with Palau and Micronesia.