President Hilda Heine, middle, at her inauguration flanked by FSM's President Welsey Simina, left, and Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr, right. Photo: Facebook / Office of the President, Federated States of Micronesia
Micronesian leaders have warned the United States against further delaying Congressional approval for federal funding arrangements to their respective countries.
In a signed letter to Washington dated 6 February, Surangel Whipps Jr of Palau, Hilda Heine of the Marshall Islands and Wesley Simina of Micronesia say delays to approving their Compacts of Free Association has opened their countries up to economic exploitation by competing political actors in the Pacific.
RNZ Pacific's Marshall Islands Correspondent Giff Johnson says the countries had anticipated being able to access the funding late last year.
He spoke with RNZ Pacific reporter Caleb Fotheringham.
