Trying to keep a strong "weapon" in competition with China, the US and the Pacific island nation reached an "important milestone"

On May 23, the US State Department announced that the country had signed agreements with Micronesia, concluding negotiations to expand economic support policies for the Pacific island nation.

Micronesia is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean that has had a Compact of Free Association with the United States since 1980. (Source: Statemag)

Specifically, according to the ministry, three agreements related to the Compact of Free Association (COFA) between Washington and Palikir were signed by US Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Alissa Bibb and host country negotiator Leo Falcam Jr.

The US State Department emphasized that this is "the result of the negotiation process with Micronesia on the extension of COFA, related to economic support policy" and is an "important milestone" in bilateral relations.

The US first reached COFAs with Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands in the 1980s, under which Washington was responsible for defending the three island nations as well as providing economic assistance, while gaining exclusive access to vast strategic areas in the Pacific.

Extending the COFA has become a key part of the US effort to compete with China for influence in the Pacific.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/co-giu-vu-khi-manh-trong-canh-tranh-trung-quoc-my-va-quoc-dao-thai-binh-duong-dat-moc-son-quan-trong-228302.html