Palikir, Pohnpei — The Government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) welcomed Lieutenant General Joshua Rudd, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and his delegation to Palikir on October 17th, 2024. The Honorable Vice President Aren B. Palik, received Lieutenant General Rudd and his team, who are in the FSM to present updates on current U.S. Department of Defense projects in Yap.
Vice President Palik extended warm appreciation to Lieutenant General Rudd and the U.S. delegation for their visit and acknowledged the constructive role the U.S. Department of Defense continues to play in advancing shared interests under the Compact of Free Association. The delegation’s trip underscores the joint commitment of the FSM national government and Yap State to work alongside the U.S. in pursuing both local development goals and regional stability objectives.
During the courtesy call, Lieutenant General Rudd conveyed that a US delegation to be led by US Deputy Chief of Mission Mut Tracy will be visiting Yap from October 29 to November 3, 2024 to deliver detailed presentations of Department of Defense’s project in Yap—focused on airport and seaport expansion.
Vice President Palik welcomed the planned US delegation visit to Yap later this month, which will provide Yap State leaders an opportunity to engage directly with U.S. experts and ask questions related to the project. FSM National Government personnel will also join the engagement in Yap to listen to the presentations alongside Yap state officials, in order to facilitate continued alignment and coordination on the ground as well as ensure a strong, unified representation and facilitate further communication.
Vice President Palik highlighted the value of the Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) process, which underpins the defense and security partnership between FSM and the U.S., and expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming JCM scheduled for November 13-14, 2024, in Chuuk. The JCM remains central to fostering cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, enhancing both defense strategy and mutual trust.
Vice President Palik also reiterated its request for the return of the Civic Action Teams (CAT) during the last JCM, recognizing their positive impact on community development.
Vice President Palik further expressed gratitude for the recent Pacific Partnership missions in Kosrae and Yap, which delivered critical health services and infrastructure improvements. In Kosrae, the Pacific Partnership team provided 21 medical events, including optometry exams, distributed over 550 pairs of eyeglasses, installed dental equipment, and trained over 100 community members in life-saving skills. In Yap, the team conducted more than 50 medical events, served approximately 700 patients, distributed nearly 300 pairs of eyeglasses, performed dental extractions, and completed essential equipment repairs.
These missions exemplify the shared humanitarian commitment between FSM and the U.S. to support health and resilience across the FSM.
###