U.S. envoy says US-Micronesia strategic pact renewed. U.S. presidential envoy Joseph Yun said he expects similar success with Palau as the U.S. builds support among Pacific island nations to challenge China.
On Monday, Yun announced that President Joe Biden would attend the Compact of Free Association (COFA) signing with Micronesia in Papua New Guinea on May 22.
In the 1980s, Washington signed COFA with Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands. The U.S. defends and aids states in exchange for exclusive access to vast critical Pacific areas.
The U.S. fights China’s Pacific expansion by renewing COFA agreements.
Yun said he initialed the deal with new Micronesian President Wesley Simina and will sign it next week in Port Moresby during a second US-Pacific conference.
“It’s a done deal,” he stated. “I am (now) going to Palau.” I aspire to progress similarly.”
Yun planned to visit the Marshall Islands from Thursday to Sunday but was “doubtful” its COFA deal could be signed.
Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau lose their COFA provisions in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
After the G7 conference in Japan, Biden will become the first sitting U.S. president to visit Papua New Guinea.
Washington signed future assistance memorandums with the three COFA states. Last month, Yun said the “topline” deals with the three nations will provide $6.5 billion over 20 years.
Over 100 arms-control, environmental, and other activist groups pushed the Biden administration to apologize to the Marshall Islands for major U.S. nuclear testing and pay adequate compensation last year.
Marshall Islanders still suffer health and environmental impacts from the 67 U.S. nuclear bomb tests from 1946 to 1958, including “Castle Bravo” at Bikini Atoll in 1954, the largest U.S. bomb ever detonated.
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