Joint Communiqué on the Kwajalein Military Use and Operating Rights Talks between the United States
and the Republic of the Marshall Islands
January 16, 2003
Honolulu, Hawaii
On January 16, 2003, representatives of the governments of the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands initialed an ad referendum Memorandum of Intent to extend the U.S. use of the Kwajalein missile testing facility for fifty years from 2016 to 2066, with an option to extend it an additional twenty years.
The U.S. commitment to long-term use of Kwajalein Atoll is the result of a series of bilateral discussions that were initiated by the RMI Government in the fall of 2001. At that time, the RMI Government reaffirmed its willingness to consider a long-term extension of the United States use of Kwajalein Atoll for U.S. defense needs.
The Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll (RTS) serves a key role in research, development, test and evaluation for America's defense and space programs. The more than 100 islands of the Kwajalein Atoll, located in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, form the world's largest lagoon. This feature, coupled with its isolated location and specialized state-of-the-art data-gathering devices, makes RTS uniquely qualified for effective live testing of missiles of all ranges. Intercontinental ballistic missiles can be launched into the Kwajalein lagoon from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, 4,840 miles away; intermediate-range missiles from Barking Sands, Hawaii, 2,430 miles away; and shorter-range tactical missiles from Wake Island, 730 miles away. RTS supports the U.S. Army space mission, the U.S. Air Force, NASA space transportation system operations and experiments, and DoD and commercial satellite launches.
The ad referendum U.S.-RMI memorandum provides for:
- Term and Option to Extend
-
- Extension of the agreement for a period of fifty years from 2016, with a U.S. option to extend it for an additional twenty years beyond 2066.
- Early Termination Provision
- A schedule of early termination payments in the event the United States desires to leave Kwajalein early. This termination option could be exercised anytime after 2023 on advance notice of at least seven years.
- Kwajalein Compensation
- A series of new Kwajalein payments beginning in Fiscal Year 2004 (October 1, 2003) at a level of $15 million per year with an increase to a new base of $18 million in 2014.
- Kwajalein Landowner Trust Fund
- The United States welcomed the RMI initiative to establish a trust fund to ensure the long-term welfare of the people of Kwajalein Atoll.
- Kwajalein Impact
- The U.S. will continue paying the $1.9 million per year agreed in the current agreement for the benefit of the Kwajalein Atoll Community with emphasis on those with traditional land rights. Beginning in 2004, this payment will be indexed for inflation based on the formula established in the Compact, as amended.
- Ebeye Special Needs and Environmental Program
- Pursuant to the Compact, U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) has developed, in cooperation with the RMI Environmental Protection Authority, a strong set of environmental standards and a formal process to review these standards annually and to report to both governments. To promote a greater RMI capability to analyze independently the Survey's findings and conclusions, the U.S. will provide for an annual grant of $200,000 to support increased participation of the GRMI EPA in the Survey.
- Joint Labor Relations Board
- The U.S. and RMI agreed to amend the military use agreement to establish a Joint Labor Relations Board.
* * *
Desiring to complete the negotiating process as soon as possible in order to facilitate early submission of the Compact amendments by both Governments to their respective approval processes, U.S. and RMI representatives resolved to concentrate their efforts during the coming weeks to take the agreed concepts in the Memorandum of Intent and use it as the basis for amending the current military use agreement.
Replies