During his first stop in Palau, Rowell participated in the Pacific Islands Forum while holding a series of bilateral engagements. He met directly with Palau President Surangel Whipps, Jr. to discuss progress at Malakal Port and future partnership opportunities.
As part of the U.S. delegation, Rowell joined Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Admiral Kevin Lunday, for engagements with key leaders representing Pacific nations including Japan, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and Tonga. Rowell also engaged distinguished alumni of the State Department’s Young Pacific Leaders initiative from Palau, RMI, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
In a tribute to shared history, Landau, Lunday, and Rowell laid wreaths at the 81st Infantry Division Memorial on Peleliu, commemorating the soldiers of the 81st Infantry Division who assisted the 1st Marine Division during the Battle of Peleliu in World War II.
In Solomon Islands, Rowell visited landmarks representing a shared history with the United States, to include touring the Parliament Building in Honiara. He hiked former battlefield areas in Bloody Ridge National Historic Park and paid respects to fallen service members by laying a wreath at the Guadalcanal Memorial, a World War II monument established as a tribute to the Americans and their allies who lost their lives during the pivotal Guadalcanal Campaign. Rowell also placed a wreath at the Douglas Munro Memorial at Point Cruz while speaking to fellow Marines about the U.S. coastguardsman’s sacrifice and heroism.
Rowell concluded the final leg of his itinerary in Indonesia, visiting Kalimantan, where he met with senior leaders of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) to discuss expansion opportunities for exercise Super Garuda Shield. The exercise serves as the premier joint, multinational training event co-hosted by TNI and the U.S. military and was ongoing during the deputy commander’s time in Indonesia. Rowell’s visit highlighted the growing scale of the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
