‘US or China?’: Guam’s Governor Lou Leon Guerrero | The Pacific | ABC NEWS

Added: 2026-05-30

[00:00:00]You've said that you're envious of SFM Federated Federated States Micronesia's independence. Can you explain what you meant by that?

[00:00:06]>> Well, they are an island sovereign nation and they have an agreement with the United States. They're a freely associated status.

[00:00:15]Uh so they have more independence and they have more control over their governance.

[00:00:21]Um and so they have a vote in the United Nations. Uh they control their immigration, you know, basically like a separate independent country but uh still very much associated with the United States. The United States gives them a lot of federal aid through the Compact of Free Association Agreement.

[00:00:42]And in that agreement, Sean, um they are the US has given the uh the uh provision that during um times of war or if there's a breach in national security that uh these island sovereign nations uh will allow them to set up uh bases and commands in their various properties. Yeah. Does that make your job difficult when so much power sort of still lies in Washington?

[00:01:12]Um I'll tell you, you know, um though there is power that relies, you know, like they can just tomorrow say, you know uh we'll take away your US citizenship and stuff. It does It is bothersome.

[00:01:27]But in my in our years, we have sort of developed much more of a uh um I don't want to say a full equitable partnership but at one point Congress could actually just eliminate laws that we've ma- made. Now that is no longer the case. And of course the United Nations have uh set out that all the colonized uh islands and countries uh need to be need to have their own self-determination.

[00:02:03]And the US hasn't really supported us in a very serious way. So, we are, you know, again on a track to vote for our self-determination.

[00:02:16]It was taken, of course, in the courts and was declared that everyone should have the the right to vote for the self-determination, the the political status.

[00:02:30]Most of us indigenous people do not agree. We feel that we should only have those that are native inhabitants of the island of Guam vote.

[00:02:44]And uh I support that very strongly because I believe that we as an indigenous people have not had our self-determination.

[00:02:54]Do you think part of the reason that that process hasn't taken place is because of the military significance of Guam to the United States and they are reluctant to go ahead with that process?

[00:03:03]>> Um I don't believe that because even if we do have our own self-political status, we'd have a better a stronger voice in negotiations of military presence here.

[00:03:16]And you know, I'm sure if that happens, there'll be some serious negotiations, right? I mean, there's there's very deep-rooted basis here. I don't think we would like throw them No, I think we would continue working very closely with the United States, especially in the whole geopolitical controversies and conflicts that are happening here, you know, and >> [clears throat] >> our people have had some a lot of benefits with the relationship with the US. You know, we we get a lot of federal aids, we get a lot of programs funded. We get a lot of educational grants and I really believe this Sean that in the North Pacific, I feel Guam is the most developed island and I have to say a lot of that has to do with our uh um with our friendship and alliance with the United States and opportunities of education uh the economy, freedom, democracy and all of that. How could your relationship be improved with the US?

[00:04:26]I think it could be improved by having a stronger voice at the table with uh the decisions that are made in DC. We don't even have a voting congressional delegate. You know, uh we don't have a seat in the Senate. Uh we don't vote for the president. Uh and these are some of the ways I think that if we uh were uh if we went and voted for our three political statuses uh statehood, independence and freely associated, but I think we'd have a we we would have a greater voice and uh more of our policies and directions. Speaking specifically about the military, how would you characterize the relationship between Guam and the US military?

[00:05:14]So, uh I think it's evolved. Um you know, in the beginning the military is seen as very arrogant. They come in and they do whatever they want to do. You know, uh they take land away, although they do pay for it. Um but it's more it's more of uh uh superiority kind of relationship. I feel over the years that that has changed to some degree and through during my administration, I feel we've we've had a very good communication uh working relationship. Of course, I don't participate in decisions that they make.

[00:05:56]Uh but they do communicate and they do uh you know, set up avenues and ways that uh there's communication between the military, what's coming down. They're very concerned also of the impact of the military build-up here. And of course, that is also because federal laws that have been passed uh to protect people uh against, you know, negative military impacts. What do you say to people who might want the US military presence to wind back or disappear completely from Guam given how economically vital it is to the territory?

[00:06:33]>> I think that's a um serious mistake. I do.

[00:06:39]Uh given again the geopolitical here.

[00:06:42]Uh I think that uh the military out here preparing for defense. And I know of course, we are at the at the forefront in the second island chain of defense, right? But um I guess at the end of the end of the story and at the end of the road, who really would you rather be under? The US or China?

[00:07:08]And uh if that question was ever put forward, I would say majority, if not all, would rather be under the US. And like when I say under, I don't mean to be totally uh a subservient in the relationship, but to have a closer uh relationships, whether we become freely associated, independent, or um or state, you know, uh the military sees the importance of our defense uh uh geographic location here, and so we have to leverage that, and we have to, uh, use that to, uh, create more equity, fairness, and, um, maybe a and and a seat at the table in major major decisions. So, you you you you don't think the military presence on Guam makes it more of a target in that doesn't make it more unsafe?

[00:08:04]>> I'll tell you why. You know, we've always been a target just because where we're at. Right? We are in the trade, um, pathways, commerce. I mean, you know, um, Magellan came and took us over. So, the Europeans were here. The the Spaniards were here. And then, uh, the US and then Japan, you know, so where we are, uh, geographically, I think is the target.

[00:08:34]And, uh, having more military presence here, I don't think it increases that risk of a target because we already we are we were at the only US soil that was invaded and occupied during the war.

[00:08:52]So, uh, I don't buy that whole argument.

[00:08:56]Uh, and so I lean more towards let's prepare and let's, uh, defend. But, does that mean we just roll over and let the military do what it No.

[00:09:07]We I do not support that. And, uh, in all my interactions as governor with the military, that's not the pathway that they are going to. They they really, um, do uh, allow discussion, communications, uh, bringing up concerns, uh, working to mitigate, uh, the impact of their, uh, presence here, uh, in housing and infrastructure, in, uh, utilities and health care and all and public safety, roads and so forth. Yeah.

[00:09:42]>> This administration has talked about taking over Greenland as a US territory, thinking about its own political future.

[00:09:50]How did that sort of discussion feel?

[00:09:53]>> [laughter] >> I just said jokingly, well, they can't take over Guam cuz they already have Guam, right? Uh it's just kind of scary.

[00:10:03]It's scary. Um you know, and I have voiced my my fear with the Department of Interior uh about how the US can just don't even listen to us and just come in and do deep sea mining without any kind of concern about our livelihood. Uh and in speaking with those leaders, uh they have uh said to me that that's not going to happen.

[00:10:30]Just finally, um you may not know what specific outcome you want, independence, statehood, but but what do you hope for the future of Guam?

[00:10:37]What I hope for for the future of Guam is that we are able to decide more uh our policies and uh you know, like for example, immigration. We we have no control over immigration. Um if we are going to have a closer tie, uh which I believe, Shawn, that just because uh we have a long experience with the US, that I think if it was to be put out there, uh it would be something that would allow for a closer uh closer uh tie and partnership, maybe fairer and more equitable partnership with the United States.

[00:11:18]Um and so uh if we're given a more of the opportunity in that whole uh political government environment to be uh more on an equitable fair playing field, that that would be the route.

[00:11:35]Yeah. That That would be what I want uh to have greater control over uh our immigration, greater control on our federal on our policies, you know, and that we don't fear uh that, you know, federal government can just decide like they have in the past, uh just recently in removing federal grants on uh on a big grant that we uh take uh advantage of uh in terms of drug prevention and training, counseling, and so forth, right? Just like overnight.

[00:12:08]So, uh I think a greater greater uh say in that.