Concerns over US Military expansion grow in the Northern Mariana Islands

On June 23 and 24, Tinian Mayor Edwin Alden issued a statement to United States military officials regarding the recent military expansion plans. In his speech, Alden “demanded honesty, saying CNMI residents are frustrated with what they see as vague or contradictory statements from military planners.” The translation of the environmental impact statement (EIS) to the local Chamorro language continues to remain a high priority for residents. He further urged the US military to honor “concrete commitments to hire local workers and award contracts to local businesses, so the islands’ struggling economy-still recovering from the pandemic-can benefit.” Additionally, Alden advocates for environmental protection through “strict safeguards and community-driven monitoring.”

Similar concerns over military expansion were voiced in a community meeting by members of Tinian, Saipan, and Rota. Issues discussed included pollution, destruction of cultural sites, and threats to traditional livelihoods such as farming and ranching. However, the most prominent concern remains the environment, as many residents worry about the “irreversible harm to coral reefs, native wildlife, and ancestral lands.”

Furthermore, economic challenges have challenged Mayor Alden’s belief that the military project is a long-term economic opportunity for the Northern Mariana Islands. Florine Hofschneider, a retired educator of NMI, remains skeptical as he says the “rapid military construction has already strained local infrastructure and increased housing costs due to an influx of military contractors on the island.”

In response to growing concerns, Mark Hashimoto, US Marine Corps Forces Pacific executive director, shared updates from the last revised environmental impact statement (REIS) released on January 1st, 2025. He believed the REIS significantly “scaled back earlier proposals” and “reflects significantly more community input.” For example, high-impact artillery and rocket missiles will be removed, while live-fire ranges will be reduced from 14 to two. To protect the environment, a new biosecurity facility will be built. However, ammunition storage, radar infrastructure, and base camps that can support up to 1,000 personnel will still exist.

Despite Hashimoto’s updates, many residents are still not satisfied. Several advocacy groups—the Marianas for Palestine, Prutehi Guahan, and Commonwealth670— in Saipan disrupted the Department of Defense’s public meeting on June 25, shouting “no war” and “no buildup.” Similarly, activist groups claim that residents of the Northern Mariana Islands are “overrepresented disproportionately in the military and combat.” Many group members fear that islands like Tinian will become targets in a future Pacific conflict.

Nonetheless, the US Department of Defense continued the meeting and gathered more public suggestions over their military training proposals. In the spring of 2026, the DOD is expected to release the Record of Decision. The record will attempt to balance national security and residential feedback in the creation of a military plan regarding land and water usage for war testing and training.

As both the Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision are finalized, concerns continue to grow in the Northern Mariana Islands. Many residents worry about the potential environmental damage to coral reefs and native wildlife, while others fear for continued pressure on local infrastructure and rising housing costs. Even though both the Revised Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision reflect the military taking into account public concerns and input, it is unclear if changes to the proposal plans are enough. Therefore, it will remain important for the US government to harmonize both national security and the residents’ well-being in this expansion of the military.