Micronesia Sun Bright News from the Deep Pacific
Photo Sources: Marshall Islands, Office of National Security, ALPACI-FAPf / Forces armées en Asie-Pacifique et en Polynésie française, France’s Permanent Secretary to the Pacific
By Christopher Cottrell
June 26, 2026, Arue, Tahiti, French Polynesia/Marshall Islands__The France Armed Forces in French Polynesia (FAFP) are in discussions with the Marshall Islands to include them in specialized training in their Pacific Academy, according to the Marshall Islands’ Office of National Security.
The talks follow the regional visit of Rear Admiral Guillaume Pinget as part of Exercise MARARA 26 in Tahiti, French Polynesia, June 16, 2026. According to the U.S. Pacific Command, “The visit provided senior military leaders an opportunity to observe the multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster response exercise and engage with participating forces and partner nations.”
Apart from Rear Adm. Pinget, other participants at MARARA 26 included, “Rear Adm. Suzanne Bailey, deputy commander of U.S. 3rd Fleet, and Maj. Gen. Lance Okamura, deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific–Homeland Affairs, and other flag officers across the Pacific, including U.S. Coast Guard and Japanese Defense Force.”
Established in 2023 following the visit of President Emmanuel Macron to the Pacific, the Pacific Academy course focuses on counter narcotics, maritime security and tactical police skills, with current trainees from Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and Kiribati.
Of particular specialization is, “Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations to counter illegal fishing and transnational crime in the maritime arena, underwater inspections for detecting illicit cargo on ship hulls and tactical drone operations for monitoring the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs.).”
During his visit, Admiral Pinget, accompanied by National Security Director Chris deBrum and RMI Honorary Consul to France Jennifer Hawley, held bilateral talks with Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade David Paul, Acting President Tony Muller and Justice Minister Wisely Zackhras.
Marshall Islands ONS Representative Renee Cabral met Admiral Pinget during the weeklong observatory engagement of the Marara 2026 Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response Exercise (HADR) in Tahiti.
According to Her Excellency Véronique Roger-Lacan, the French Ambassador and Permanent Secretary to the Pacific, France is increasing its presence across Micronesia and the Pacific Islands, seeking new ways to strengthen its historical French Pacific ties with its neighbor island nations and true stewards of the world’s largest ocean.
