U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement yesterday recognizing the 39th anniversary of independence for the Federated States of Micronesia’s (FSM).
“The United States and the Federated States of Micronesia share a deep partnership rooted in our Compact of Free Association,” the press release stated. “Our long history of working together on security issues and economic development is a testament to the strength of our relationship.”
The U.S. has signed Compacts of Free Association (COFAs) with three Pacific Island nations: FSM, Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). Each country is a sovereign nation, but each has also relinquished a part of its sovereignty – over national security and defense issues – to the United States in rough exchange for military protection.
COFA nations do not have their own militaries, and COFA citizens fight in the U.S. military despite not having U.S. citizenship.
On March 27, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and FSM President Wesley Simina announced a $2 billion agreement to enable the U.S. to begin construction on infrastructure projects on the Micronesian island of Yap – including, according to a U.S. Navy press release, “airport and seaport upgrades that will provide strategic operational and exercise capabilities for U.S. forces.”
President Simina reaffirmed “the FSM’s strong support for continued U.S military cooperation, including the impactful work of the U.S Navy Seabees, and upcoming Pacific Partnership 2025 and Koa Moana 2025 deployments,” according to the Island Times.
