Transcript
It was the first time the leaders of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands had met with the United States President Donald Trump.
But, despite a joint-statement reaffirming security cooperation, Tuesday's summit was absent of any tangible takeaways.
Amy Searight from the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington says under Mr Trump, the US is more focused on military ties.
"Overall there's not been a huge change in approach. For the Trump administration, the real challenge is climate change, the number one priority obviously for the Pacific Island nations. And the Trump administration is doing nothing on climate change so that's a big mismatch in priority."
Although the statement referenced a commitment to reduce natural disaster vulnerabilities, there was no specific mention of climate change.
Pacific analyst Tess Newton Cain says that pales to the attention Pacific leaders have given the issue at summits like the Pacific Islands Forum.
"There was no reference to whether there had been any discussion between the Pacific leaders and President Trump about the US rejoining the Paris agreement, which we might have expected them to talk about."
Instead, leaders of at least two of the three Pacific nations at the meeting have honed in on China's growing influence in the region.
Last week, Palau President Tommy Remengesau said in an opinion piece that China was threatening the Pacific with expansionism and militarisation.
And on Tuesday, Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine told the US defence secretary that China was placing economic pressure on her country.
Amy Searight says China's aid, and especially loans in the region, have been met with mixed reaction.
"There's growing concern that China is to some degree perhaps meddling in the political processes of these countries, trying to tip the scales for elections or other kinds of things and that's a growing concern in the region as well."
According to Palau-based journalist Bernadette Carreon, Pacific leaders are also using global fears over China as leverage with other vying partners.
She says Mr Remengesau's opinion piece was uncharacteristically bullish in tone and may help extract concessions from the US.
"It's like they're dangling a carrot - it's China. So if China is coming in the Pacific, I think the US will look into Palau, FSM and RMI again and their strategy."
Although the Trump administration renewed commitments to the Compacts of Free Association held with Pacific states, they still have to pass congress.
Amy Searight says meetings with other congressional members this week will have helped the push for an eventual agreement.
