As part of his Indo-Pacific tour, United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently visited Guam on March 27. He met with several civilian and military leaders, most notably Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero (D) and Northern Mariana Islands Governor Arnold Palacios (R), at Andersen Air Force Base in Yigo. At the meeting, they discussed the strategic importance of the islands and their role in deterring threats in the Indo-Pacific, such as China and North Korea.
His arrival sparked a wide range of reactions. Leon Guerrero publicly welcomed Hegseth, proudly proclaiming that, “We are the second island chain of defense. And we very much want to help with that preparation.” She echoed the importance of Guam’s role in greater national security, given its proximity to the South China Sea and Taiwan, where China has recently ramped up its aggressiveness.
However, a group of locals gathered outside the Air Force Base to protest Hegseth’s arrival. They displayed bright red signs accusing him and the Trump administration as a whole of being warmongers. One of the slogans used by the protesters urged the federal government to “Stop Funding Genocide + Ecocide”, referring to the larger issue of destruction of territorial homeland in Southeast Asia.
The protesters additionally held worries over Guam’s ability to endure a war, given the island’s relatively large role in America’s strategic defense system despite its minuscule size and deteriorating infrastructure. Robert Underwood, Pacific Center for Island Security Chairman, stressed Guam’s vulnerability when he posed the question, “What is the United States willing to fight over in this part of the world? Because if you’re willing to fight over something, you’re wagering our existence.”
This concern is not unwarranted. Guam’s military buildup, which is set to include sending an additional 5,000 marines to the island, could encourage further Chinese aggression in the region. It’s becoming more and more likely that if a war were to break out between the US and China, Guam would be the first major target.
As it stands right now, Guam’s civil infrastructure is not prepared for a war, a fact Leon Guerrero acknowledged as she sought federal funding for a new hospital. This comes after years of neglect by the federal government, as a lack of assistance has contributed to significant deficiencies in many public services, issues which would only be exacerbated in a potential conflict. While utilizing Guam as a first line of defense may seem like a victory for greater national security, it could come at a huge cost to Guamanians.
To his credit, Hegseth publicly reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to protecting Guam in the event of an attack: “I want to be very clear to everyone in this room, to the cameras: any attack against these islands is an attack against the US We recognize that. We understand that. We are committed to that, and we would meet any attack with the appropriate response.” He further emphasized that the military presence on the island was an attempt to achieve “peace through strength.”
While Hegseth’s comments may provide temporary relief for Guamanians, given the federal government’s neglect of the island in the past, it’s hard to tell whether Guam will actually receive the attention Hegseth promises.
Very good article Ricardo!!!! Keep up the good work! I know you parents are proud!!!