Readout: Pacific Fleet commander’s travel to Vanuatu, November 7, 2025

12 November 2025

From U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, traveled to Vanuatu, alongside Fleet Master Chief Don Davis, Nov. 7, 2025 to participate in Pacific Partnership 2025, the Indo-Pacific region’s largest annual multinational humanitarian and civic assistance mission, which fosters relationships, strengthens regional stability, and increases readiness to respond to crises.

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Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, Ann Marie Yastishock, Sanma Province President Bridley Livo, Sanma Province Secretary General Jonathan Iavere, and Pacific Partnership 2025 (PP25) leadership, pose for a photo following the PP25 opening ceremony in Luganville, Vanuatu, Nov. 7, 2025. Now in its 21st iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. The visit to Vanuatu underscored Koehler’s commitment to the Pacific Islands in addressing our shared maritime challenges to promote a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Aric Sypert)

While in Luganville, Koehler met with Ms. Ann Marie Yastishock, U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomons Islands, and Vanuatu and toured the South Pacific World War II Museum.

Koehler and Davis engaged with the Pacific Partnership 2025 team, embarked aboard the Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary sea base USS John L. Canley (ESB 6), which was in country for its last mission stop. While in Vanuatu, participants from the United States and a team of multinational partners will work alongside the Government of Vanuatu, civil organizations, and community leaders to conduct medical exchanges, disaster management workshops, engineering engagements, and outreach events with performances by the Pacific Partnership band, health fairs, and school visits.

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center, delivers remarks at the Pacific Partnership 2025 opening ceremony in Luganville, Vanuatu, Nov. 7, 2025. Now in its 21st iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. The visit to Vanuatu underscored Koehler’s commitment to the Pacific Islands in addressing our shared maritime challenges to promote a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Aric Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, meets with the U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, Ann Marie Yastishock, left, in Luganville, Vanuatu, Nov. 7, 2025. The visit to Vanuatu underscored Koehler’s commitment to the Pacific Islands in addressing our shared maritime challenges to promote a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Aric Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, and his wife, Gina Koehler, center left, receive a tour of the South Pacific WWII Museum from Marina Moli, museum support officer, center right, in Luganville, Vanuatu, Nov. 7, 2025. The visit to Vanuatu underscored Koehler’s commitment to the Pacific Islands in addressing our shared maritime challenges to promote a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Aric Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, and his wife, Gina Koehler, center, receive a tour of the South Pacific WWII Museum from Marina Moli, museum support officer, in Luganville, Vanuatu, Nov. 7, 2025. The visit to Vanuatu underscored Koehler’s commitment to the Pacific Islands in addressing our shared maritime challenges to promote a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Aric Sypert)

Koehler gave remarks at the Pacific Partnership opening ceremony alongside senior local leaders including Sanma Province President Bridley Livo and Sanma Province Secretary General Jonathan Iavere. Koehler highlighted the importance of the Pacific Partnership mission in strengthening relationships and cooperation to enhance the ability of nations to respond in times of crisis.

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, and U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, Ann Marie Yastishock, center, meet with Jotham Napat, prime minister of Vanuatu, in Port Vila, Vanuatu, Nov. 7, 2025. The visit to Vanuatu underscored Koehler’s commitment to the Pacific Islands in addressing our shared maritime challenges to promote a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Aric Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center right, U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guines, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, Ann Marie Yastishock, center left, and members of their respective staffs pose for a photo with Jotham Napat, prime minister of Vanuatu, following a meeting in Port Vila, Vanuatu, Nov. 7, 2025. The visit to Vanuatu underscored Koehler’s commitment to the Pacific Islands in addressing our shared maritime challenges to promote a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Aric Sypert)

Koehler then traveled to Port Vila where he and Ambassador Yastishock met with Prime Minister Jotham Napat to discuss regional security challenges and opportunities. Napat expressed appreciation for the Pacific Partnership team’s work, and the recent joint ship-rider patrol aboard USCGC Harriet Lane (WMEC 903) where law enforcement officials and USCG personnel operated together to enable the country to protect its sovereignty and enforce maritime law within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The United States will continue to build on its historic and cultural links with the Pacific Island Countries (PIC) to address major security challenges, including:

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing
Narcotics and human trafficking
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR)
Helping develop the capability and capacity to mitigate disease and pandemics.

The visit to Vanuatu underscored Koehler’s commitment to the Pacific Islands in addressing our shared maritime challenges to promote a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific.