By Talaia Mika, Cook Islands
FBI Director Kash Patel at the opening ceremony for a dedicated law enforcement attaché office in Wellington. Photo: Supplied/OLA THORSEN
The United States is increasing its presence in the Pacific, including the Cook Islands, due to concerns over China's growing influence in the region.
Speaking exclusively to Cook Islands News, US Chargé d'Affaires David Gehrenbeck, who was in Rarotonga last week to celebrate the Cook Islands' 60th self-governance anniversary, said the US is ramping up its own regional presence through an upgraded FBI office in Wellington and increased diplomatic engagement.
Gehrenbeck confirmed that the new US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office in Wellington gives the agency greater autonomy to work directly with partners across the Pacific, including in the Cook Islands.
The move comes amid growing geopolitical competition in the region, particularly as China strengthens its ties with Pacific nations, including through the signing of a comprehensive strategic partnership and memorandums of understanding with the Cook Islands earlier this year.
"We do have concerns with China and China's efforts to assert its influence in the region," Gehrenbeck told Cook Islands News.
"We have questions about what their ambitions and intentions are."
US chargé d'affaires at the US Embassy in Wellington, David Gehrenbeck. Photo: Cook Islands News / Talaia Mika
Cook Islands News reached out to the Office of the Cook Islands Prime Minister last week after the United States announced it had upgraded the FBI's presence in New Zealand to a standalone office in the capital, Wellington.
The newspaper asked the Cook Islands government's official position on the increased FBI presence in the region, particularly given its expanded oversight to include the Cook Islands, and its view on the FBI's stated objective to "counter Chinese influence" in the context of the Cook Islands' foreign relations and economic partnerships with China.
It also asked whether the Cook Islands Government has been consulted or engaged in discussions regarding the FBI's expanded role, including as part of the Cook Islands-New Zealand Joint Centenary Declaration (JCD), which defines the constitutional relationship between the two nations.
A spokesperson for the Office of the PM said "we won't be providing any comment".
In February this year, the Cook Islands signed the four key agreements, including the Action Plan for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) 2025-20230, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Deepening Blue Economy Cooperation, MoU for the Blue Partnership in Seabed Minerals Affairs and Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation.
The move created a diplomatic rift between New Zealand and the Cook Islands, resulting in New Zealand pausing over $18 million in core sector support funding. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters earlier said the Cook Islands failed to properly consult New Zealand concerning any agreements it planned to sign with China, as required under the Joint Centenary Declaration.
Gehrenbeck stressed the importance of transparency in all international relationships, particularly when small nations are making decisions that shape their future.
He said the United States continues to offer itself as a trusted and transparent partner to the Cook Islands - one rooted in shared democratic values and open dialogue.
"One of the key elements of being a good partner, I would say, is transparency," Gehrenbeck said. "It's really important that not only the government of the Cook Islands but the people of the Cook Islands are well aware of what's happening."
"We think that the United States can be the good kind of partner that the Cook Islands wants to have as it develops as a nation."
As the Cook Islands deepens its international ties, Gehrenbeck reaffirmed that the US has made clear it wants to be part of that conversation emphasising a partnership built on openness, shared values and respect for the country's sovereignty.
"I think it's important that the people of the Cook Islands hear directly from the government of the United States."
The upgraded FBI office in Wellington - now a full legal attaché - shows a stronger US commitment to the region. Previously, the office reported through Canberra, but it now reports directly to Washington.
Also read: Cook Islands deal has 'nothing to do with military or security agenda', says Chinese ambassador
According to Gehrenbeck, this change will allow the FBI to work more directly with law enforcement partners across the Pacific, including the Cook Islands, with a focus on tackling serious transnational crimes such as narcotics trafficking.
"We understand that there are major concerns in the region, for example with narco-trafficking, and that's one of the areas where the FBI can really provide great assistance and be a really good partner to local governments such as here in the Cooks.
"Their main job actually is to investigate crimes and try to catch the bad guys, essentially find the perpetrators and then bring them to justice."
Meanwhile, China has strongly opposed what it calls "groundless assertions" following comments made last week about an FBI office countering China's influence in the Pacific.
"Transnational crime is a common challenge encountered by all countries requiring cooperation to tackle," a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy said.
"On the opening of a new FBI office in Wellington with a permanent Legat (legal attaché) position, we have taken note of the assertions by the American side, as well as the remarks by relevant New Zealand ministers in response to the media.
"We believe that relevant cooperation should not target any third party. And we strongly oppose any attempt to make groundless assertions or vilification against China out of the Cold War mentality. Such acts are against people's will and are doomed to fail."
Additional reports from RNZ Pacific
-This article was first published by Cook Islands News.
