Nice, France, June 10–12, 2025 – His Excellency Wesley W. Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), has concluded a series of high-level engagements at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) and the 6th Pacific Islands France Summit in Nice, France.
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Address to the UN Ocean Conference General Debate: A Call for Global Unity and Action
On June 10, 2025, President Simina delivered FSM’s national statement at the UNOC General Debate, underscoring the ocean’s central role in Micronesian life, not only as a source of food and income, but as a foundation of identity, culture, and sovereignty.
He sounded the alarm over unprecedented threats facing the ocean – climate change, pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction – and called for accelerated global action. He reaffirmed FSM’s commitment to the Pacific Islands Forum’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
President Simina urged all nations to implement Sustainable Development Goal 14, ratify the new treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), and increase financial support for blue economy and marine science initiatives.
“We do not inherit the ocean from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children,” he declared. “The seas bring us together; they do not separate us.”
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Bilateral Meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron
On the same day on the margins of UNOC, President Simina met with His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, to reaffirm the enduring partnership between the FSM and France.
The two leaders celebrated over three decades of diplomatic relations and discussed advancing cooperation in climate action, law enforcement training, and regional stability.
President Simina emphasized the FSM’s severe exposure to sea-level rise, stronger storms, and food and water insecurity, and applauded France’s leadership in global climate diplomacy. He advocated for continued French support for Micronesia’s climate resilience efforts and for the establishment of a European Union mission in the Northern Pacific, with FSM serving as a regional hub.
He also reiterated FSM’s commitment to host the United Nations Multi-Country Office for the Northern Pacific and requested France’s support for this milestone initiative, which aims to streamline multilateral coordination and service delivery.
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FSM Leads Historic Treaty Amendments to Codify Maritime Boundaries Amid Sea Level Rise
From June 11-12, 2025, in a groundbreaking achievement at the UN Ocean Conference and Pacific Islands France Summit, President Simina secured two critical treaty amendments with Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, setting a global legal precedent in climate-resilient ocean governance.
On June 11, FSM and Palau signed an amendment to their Maritime Boundary Delimitation Treaty, embedding the 2021 Pacific Island Leaders’ Declaration on Preserving Maritime Zones amid Climate Change-related Sea-Level Rise into legally binding international law. On June 12, FSM concluded a similar amendment with the Marshall Islands.
This marks the first time in history that the principle of fixed maritime boundaries—regardless of shifting coastlines due to sea-level rise—has been codified in ratified treaties.
“These amendments underscore FSM’s unwavering commitment to regional stability, legal certainty, and the resilience of our Blue Pacific,” said President Simina. “We call on all Pacific nations to join us in anchoring the 2021 Declaration into their maritime agreements. Our sovereignty and resources must endure beyond rising tides.”
The FSM played a leading role in driving this effort, signaling strong leadership and proactive diplomacy in translating regional commitments into enforceable legal frameworks. The treaties ensure the permanence of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), fisheries access, and seabed resource rights—protecting the lifeblood of Pacific economies in the face of a changing climate.
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Participation in the 6th Pacific Islands France Summit: Advancing Regional Resilience
On June 12, 2025, President Simina joined Pacific leaders and President Macron for the 6th Pacific Islands France Summit, where he reaffirmed the FSM’s commitment to inclusive development, peace, and prosperity across the Blue Pacific Continent.
He emphasized the need for regional cooperation to address transnational crime, maritime threats, and geopolitical challenges, while respecting sovereignty and self-determination. He also advocated for stronger human mobility, digital transformation, and sustainable infrastructure to boost economic resilience and close development gaps.
“Our strength is in our numbers and resilience when we move in one direction, like the flock of birds flying in formation,” President Simina said. “Let us seize this opportunity to reaffirm our shared vision for a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Blue Pacific Continent.”
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Address at UNOC Ocean Action Panel: Strengthening Tuna Fisheries Through Cooperation
On June 12, 2025 at the Ocean Action Panel 8, President Simina spoke on behalf of the world’s five Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs), calling for deeper cooperation to protect tuna stocks and ocean health. The President was joined by NORMA consultant Mr. Eugene Pangelinan, honorable members of the FSM Congress including Senator Fabien Nimea, Senator Jermy Mudong and Senator Merlynn Abello-Alfonso.
He identified three urgent priorities:
– Technology for Transparency: FSM leads the Technology for Tuna Transparency (T3) Challenge, aiming for 100% electronic monitoring of tuna vessels to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
– Climate-Responsive Management: He advocated for adaptive, science-based, and culturally grounded approaches to deal with shifting tuna stocks and ensure equitable access for small-scale fishers.
– Legal Certainty: Highlighting the boundary treaties, President Simina called for all Pacific nations to finalize their maritime zones to secure long-term resource management.
“The Tuna Commissions function as living reefs of cooperation,” he said. “Let us recommit to the principles of shared responsibility—so that tuna fisheries remain abundant, our coastal livelihoods thrive, and ocean governance remains a beacon of sustainability.”
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“ Leading by Doing” Side Event: FSM Announces Marine Spatial Planning Legislation
On June 12, 2025 at the UNOC side event “Leading by Doing: Three Years of Progress Toward 30×30,” President Simina announced the introduction of the FSM Marine Spatial Planning Bill—legislation that will establish one of the world’s largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) networks.
Building on the Micronesia Challenge, FSM now aims to effectively manage 30% of its land and 50% of its marine resources. The bill, once enacted, will:
– Protect nearly one million square kilometers of FSM’s ocean territory.
– Mandate public consultation for inclusive governance.
– Provide legal authority for transparent, coordinated marine planning.
– Support sustainable fisheries and strengthen climate adaptation.
“The time for promises has passed; the time for action is now,” President Simina declared. “Let us leave France with a renewed determination to protect what sustains us all: our ocean.”
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President Simina’s active and strategic participation at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference and Pacific Islands France Summit reaffirmed FSM’s role as a leader in ocean protection, climate diplomacy, and regional solidarity. From codifying boundary permanence to presenting conservation legislation and uniting global voices for sustainable fisheries, the FSM continues to chart a bold course for the future of the Blue Pacific. President Simina was joined by a high-level delegation including Madame First Lady Ancelly Simina, Secretary of Resources & Development Hon. Elina Akinaga, Secretary of Justice Hon. Leonito Bacalando Jr., FSM Permanent Representative to the United Nations H.E. Jeem Lippwe and staff.
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