Guam and CNMI are carrying America’s burden; it’s time Washington steps up

By Frank Blas Jr.

When Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed the Shangri‑La Dialogue in Singapore this May, he delivered a message that resonated across the Indo‑Pacific: the region is now the world’s strategic center of gravity, and the United States intends to remain its stabilizing force.

For many listening, his remarks were a statement of geopolitical intent. For the people of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, they were something far more personal. It was a reminder of the responsibility we shoulder every day.

Guam and the CNMI are not abstract points on a map. We are the forward edge of American power in the Pacific. We host the bases, the bombers, the submarines, the servicemen, the training facilities and the infrastructure that shoulder the United States’ ability to deter conflict and maintain a free and open Indo‑Pacific.

When Secretary Hegseth speaks about the need for strength, presence and readiness, he is speaking about missions that begin on our shores.

But his remarks also carried another message, one that we cannot afford to ignore. Secretary Hegseth called on America’s allies to “step up” and carry more of the burden of regional security.

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That expectation is fair. But it must apply here in Guam and the CNMI as well. If the United States expects its partners to invest in their own resilience, then the federal government must also invest in the readiness and resilience of the territory that anchors its Indo‑Pacific posture.

For decades, Guam and the CNMI have carried more than its share. We have done so with pride, with patriotism, and with a deep sense of duty. But we have also done so while navigating our challenges with a challenged economy, an aging civilian infrastructure, a strained healthcare system and the constant reality that our island sits within range of the very threats shaping today’s strategic environment.

And we have done so without a relevant voice in many decisions or meaningful representation in many discussions. No other American community lives with these challenges.

That is why Secretary Hegseth’s remarks must be met with clarity and conviction. If we are essential to the nation’s defense strategy, then the nation must treat Guam and the CNMI as such.

That means investing in the civilian systems that protect our people, a reliable healthcare system, hardened utilities, reliable water and power, and emergency response capabilities that match the scale of the risks we face. It means ensuring that as the military footprint grows, the quality of life for our families grows with it.

And it means recognizing that national security is not only measured in ships and aircraft, but in the well‑being of the Americans who live on the front line of that mission.

Our people are proud to serve. We always have been. But service must be met with partnership. Washington cannot rely on our strategic value while overlooking our human needs. The Indo‑Pacific may be the world’s decisive region, but Guam and the CNMI are the decisive grounds on which America’s commitments rest.

Secretary Hegseth’s message in Singapore was clear: the United States is here to stay. Our message in return should be just as clear: so are we, and we deserve the full measure of support that our role demands. We are One Marianas.

Frank Blas Jr. is the speaker of the 38th Guam Legislature and a Republican candidate for governor.

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