Tinian Plays Central Role In CNMI Military Expansion

Thursday, 1 May 2025, 6:55 pm
Article: RNZ

Mark Rabago, RNZ Pacific Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas correspondent

Once home to pivotal World War II operations, Tinian is emerging once again as a critical asset in the United States defence.

With a suite of military expansion projects reshaping the Northern Mariana Islands, the island is seeing new economic activity, infrastructure upgrades, and a revived strategic role in the Indo-Pacific.

At the heart of the transformation is the rehabilitation of North Field, Tinian's historic airfield.

Rather than demolish the wartime-era structure, military planners are restoring it-upgrading its two runways while preserving its legacy.

Once completed by 2027, the facility is expected to serve both military exercises and function as an emergency airstrip for commercial use in times of disaster.

"This isn't just reconstruction-it's preservation through modernization," Edward Camacho, special assistant for military affairs under Governor Arnold Palacios, said.

Camacho emphasised that military personnel will not be permanently stationed on the island. Instead, troops rotating in for exercises-ranging from 100 to 1500 at a time-will stay in local hotels, eat at restaurants, and rent vehicles, directly benefiting Tinian's economy.

Direct economic benefits

According to Tinian Senator Jude Hofschneider, the projects have already generated significant results.

"There's been a shift," Hofschneider said. "People are leaving government jobs for higher-paying private sector roles in construction and logistics."

Hofschneider said a rise in tax revenue linked to military activity and an uptick in small business growth, including hotels and restaurants serving visiting personnel.

"This military presence is helping to diversify our economy. We can't rely on tourism alone," Hofschneider said.

"We need multiple economic pillars-military, construction, agriculture, and tourism-just like Hawaii."

He added that this growth underscores the need for long-term investment in critical infrastructure, including solid waste management, sustainable water supply, and centralized sewage treatment.

Environmental protection measures

Despite the construction activity, military and CNMI officials insist that strict environmental safeguards are in place.

"Even one ant could stop a shipment," Camacho said, referencing biosecurity protocols aimed at preventing the spread of invasive species like the coconut rhinoceros beetle already threatening Rota.

Comprehensive environmental assessments are being conducted to protect coral reefs, fisheries, and native wildlife. Camacho underscored that the CNMI retains the right to deny entry to non-compliant military equipment.

No permanent bases

Camacho and military leaders clarified that there are no plans for permanent bases, air wings, or barracks on Tinian or Saipan.

The CNMI's role is to support flexible, rotational operations as part of a broader US military strategy to disperse forces across the Pacific-a concept known as distributed lethality.

Other projects include the Divert Airfield, now 65% complete, which will provide an alternate landing site if Andersen Air Force Base in Guam is compromised.

Meanwhile, Rota is being considered for the construction of humanitarian and disaster relief warehouses, further expanding the Marianas' regional role.

Building resilience

Beyond defense, Hofschneider is also advocating for agricultural self-sufficiency, pointing to Tinian's growing beef industry and plans to expand into pork and poultry farming.

"We learned from COVID," he said. "We can't just depend on imported goods anymore. We need to be resilient."

Federal partnership growing

At the recent CNMI Economic Forum, Pacific Air Forces Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Laura Lenderman praised the Northern Marianas as a "critical partner" in U.S. defense. She said programs like the APAC Accelerator are helping more CNMI-based companies successfully bid on federal defense contracts.

Camacho reiterated that the CNMI must stay involved in the planning process.

"We cannot be passive," he said.

"This is our homeland. We must shape how the military build-up impacts our economy, our environment, and our culture."

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