The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel:

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman met today in Washington with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown. The two discussed deepening the bilateral relationship between the United States and Cook Islands as well as Cook Islands’ role as Pacific Island Forum (PIF) chair. They also exchanged ideas on how the United States and other partners can best engage with the PIF through Partners in the Blue Pacific to advance the Pacific Island Forum’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. The Deputy Secretary noted that AUKUS adheres to the highest nonproliferation standards.