In a follow-up discussion to their July meeting, Governor Arnold Palacios met with Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), last week at Camp H.M. Smith (Oahu, Hawaii), home of the command’s headquarters. Their discussion was centered on U.S. Department of Defense activities that benefit the CNMI, as well as infrastructure and healthcare projects.
They also talked about initiatives that would expand economic partnerships with regional U.S. allies. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command includes 380,000 soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, coast guardsmen and Department of Defense civilians and is responsible for all U.S. military activities in the Indo-Pacific, covering 36 nations and encompassing about half the earth’s surface. Paparo assumed duties as Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, in May 2024 following the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of his nomination to the post.
