The US on Friday said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Federated States of Micronesia, reflecting a shared understanding on future US assistance to the Pacific island country that Washington is anxious to keep away from China’s influence.
Washington has now signed MOUs on future assistance with three key Pacific island countries as it negotiates cooperation agreement renewals that provide the US access to huge swaths of the Pacific region for defense purposes.
Washington said it signed MOUs last month with the Marshall Islands and Palau, and reached consensus on terms of US economic assistance, but Washington has not provided details.
Photo: Reuters
Officials in Micronesia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Washington’s statement said the latest MOU affirmed “our close and continuing partnership, and reflecting our shared understanding reached on levels and types of future US assistance to be requested for the Federated States of Micronesia.”
“The Memorandum of Understanding was signed as part of the ongoing Compact of Free Association negotiations, and confirms our shared vision for a strong and enduring partnership that will continue to benefit both nations and the entire Pacific region,” the statement said.
The US move comes as Washington and its allies become increasingly concerned about China’s military ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region.
Under Compacts of Free Association first agreed to in the 1980s, Washington retains responsibility for the defense of the three island nations while providing them with economic assistance.
Compact provisions are scheduled to expire this year for the Marshall Islands and Micronesia, and next year for for Palau.
Although the island nations still enjoy close ties to Washington, critics have said that a failure to finalize economic aid could spur them to look to China for funding or increased trade and tourism.
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