MAJURO, Republic of the Marshall Islands — Earlier this month, President Wesley W. Simina led the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) delegation to the 27th Micronesian Islands Forum (MIF), held from July 2–4, 2025, in Majuro, under the theme “Eju Bõkã In”, a call to navigate change together through decisive regional action.
President Simina joined leaders from Guam, CNMI, Palau, Nauru, and the Marshall Islands in reaffirming a shared commitment to strengthen cooperation, advocate with one voice, and shape solutions rooted in the priorities of Micronesian communities. The forum served as a platform to advance collective action on climate change, connectivity, regional health, gender equality, and youth inclusion.
At the margins of the Forum, a major milestone in regional trade and connectivity was achieved. The Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Nauru, and the Republic of Palau signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Regional Air Cargo Cooperation. This MOU aims to strengthen regional air cargo connectivity to accelerate trade, ensure timely access to essential goods, and build a more resilient and self-sustaining Pacific community. It will serve as a catalyst to ease the movement of food and agricultural products, medical supplies, e-commerce parcels, and official government materials, while also encouraging greater trade coordination and sustained economic integration across the region.
President Simina expressed appreciation for the warm hospitality of President Hilda C. Heine and the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. He also welcomed the historic first-time participation of Micronesian youth in the Forum and echoed their calls for deeper engagement in decision-making processes. The FSM delegation supported the Youth Joint Statement and emphasized the need to integrate youth perspectives in national and regional planning.
On climate change, the FSM backed bold positions including swift action to reduce short-lived pollutants and safeguarding maritime zones against sea-level rise. President Simina further highlighted the FSM’s progress under the Micronesia Challenge and called on all Forum members to incorporate climate-resilient maritime boundaries into national legislation.
Leaders adopted a number of significant resolutions, including support for the elimination of cervical cancer and HPV, affirmation of the 78th World Health Assembly Resolution on the health effects of nuclear weapons, endorsement of a Medical Complex in Guam to serve the region, and support for the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership. Other resolutions addressed funding for coral reef and giant clam conservation, support for Guam’s decolonization efforts, and the formal establishment of the Micronesian Gender Equality Framework (MGEF), to which FSM reaffirmed its full commitment.
The Forum also took steps to address growing regional security concerns, with leaders supporting the creation of a dedicated MIF Regional Security Committee and endorsing the Micronesia Area Research Center (MARC) as the Forum’s institutional memory and archive partner.
President Simina concluded the Forum by expressing his gratitude that Pohnpei State will host the 28th Micronesian Islands Forum in 2026 and looks forward to welcoming the Micronesian family to FSM once again.
On the margins of the Forum, President Simina also held bilateral meetings with Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific, and Ms. Celeste Connors, the newly appointed President of the East-West Center (EWC).
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