; (B) advancing economic prosperity through trade and development free from coercion; and (C) supporting good governance, the rule of law, and human rights and fundamental freedoms. (4) The United States National Security Strategy released in December 2017 outlines a United States foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific region based on strengthening alliances and partnerships old and new, promoting regional development including through fair and reciprocal trade, and maintaining a strong defense to protect regional peace and security. The National Security Strategy includes a commitment to shore up fragile partner states in the Pacific Islands region to reduce their vulnerability to economic fluctuations and natural disasters . (5) At the 30th Forum Partners Dialogue of the Pacific Islands Forum held in Nauru in September 2018, then-Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke stated: The United States is deeply committed to the security and prosperity of our friends and neighbors in the Pacific . . . We see all of the Pacific Islands as an essential part of our free and open Indo-Pacific policy . . . When the United States invests in the Pacific Islands, we do so as a partner committed to a shared future that advances national sovereignty, regional cooperation, and trust. . (6) The Department of Defense’s June 2019 Indo-Pacific Strategy Report identified the Pacific Islands as critical to U.S. strategy because of our shared values, interests, and commitments and committed the United States to building capacity and resilience to address maritime security; Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing; drug trafficking; and resilience to address climate change and disaster response . (7) The United States has deepened its diplomatic engagement with the Pacific Islands through several recent meetings, including— (A) a historic White House meeting between President Trump and the three Presidents of the Freely Associated States on May 21, 2019