Episode 19: On the Ground in Vanuatu: How One Navy Captain Helped Establish a New U.S. Embassy
Guest
Mark Asuncion
Files
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Description
Vanuatu is a country comprised of about 80 islands in the South Pacific. The United States established diplomatic relations with Vanuatu in 1986, with a non-resident US ambassador overseeing diplomatic interests in Vanuatu from the U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea. Diplomatic engagement with Vanuatu deepened in 2024, when the United States opened an embassy in Vanuatu’s capital, Port-Vila. Instrumental in this effort was Navy Captain Mark Asuncion, who was the senior U.S. official in Vanuatu during this period. He joins The Debrief to reflect on this experience.
Episode Length
23:38
File Size
32 MB
File Format
MP3
Release Date
1-29-2026
Keywords
U.S. Naval War College, National Security Affairs Department, Diplomacy, South Pacific, Vanuatu, Indo-Pacific
Recommended Citation
National Security Affairs Department, U.S. Naval War College, "Episode 19: On the Ground in Vanuatu: How One Navy Captain Helped Establish a New U.S. Embassy" (2026). The Debrief Podcast. 19.
https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/the-debrief/19
