New United States Ambassador Laura Stone presented her diplomatic credentials to Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine last week at the Cabinet, ending a 16-month period without an American ambassador in Majuro.
Stone took the opportunity of her first official meeting with the president to emphasize the unique nature of the US-Marshall Islands relationship.
“Our closest partner in the world resides not in Europe, not in the Americas, or even in Asia; rather it is the Republic of the Marshall Islands,” Stone said. “The Marshallese people serve in the US military in higher rates than any state, you have the highest voting coincidence with the United States in the United Nations, you host one of our most important military bases, and our people are intertwined historically, culturally, and economically.”
Stone arrived last week Tuesday and presented her credentials Friday morning.
President Heine warmly welcomed the new ambassador, saying her arrival comes at an important moment for the Marshall Islands.
“Your arrival comes at a crucial moment in our bilateral relations, as the Marshall Islands and the United States are currently in the final stages of the Compact negotiations, particularly focusing on the Federal Programs and Services Agreement,” Heine said. “I have no doubt that your leadership and diplomatic acumen will be invaluable in guiding these discussions to a successful and mutually beneficial conclusion. I wish to assure you of the fullest cooperation and support from the government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands in assisting you to discharge your duties. I am confident that during your tenure, relations between our two countries will continue to thrive for the mutual benefit of both countries.”
The relationship is of such significance, the US ambassador said, “What is good for the Marshall Islands is good for the United States, and vice versa.”
Stone added that her “highest priorities in assuming this post will be to ensure that the Marshallese are able to take advantage of our free association, to best benefit the everyday people of the Islands.”
She pledged “to work tirelessly to strengthen our partnership, addressing the challenges of climate change, economic development, and healthcare with the urgency they demand. Together, we will explore new opportunities for collaboration in education, scientific research, and cultural exchange, ensuring that the benefits of our relationship are felt by all citizens.”
Stone is a career member the US Senior Foreign Service and is a China and Asia expert. She has previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for South Asia, overseeing U.S. policy towards India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, and Bhutan; Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Mongolia; and Director of the Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs. She is fluent in Chinese.