Micronesia Sun Bright News from the Deep Pacific
Photo Sources: U.S. Embassy Suva
October 2, 2026, Federated States of Micronesia___At the United Nations General Assembly 81, Assistant Secretary of State Michael George DeSombre met with Naoero’s Deputy Foreign Minister Russ Kun to thank his country for pulling out of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
According to the U.S. Department of State, Assistant Secretary of State DeSombre congratulated, “him on Naoero’s decision to withdraw from the ICC. Naoero joins a growing number of nations standing up for their sovereignty against the ICC’s illegitimate overreach. As Secretary Rubio has stated, the United States will never surrender its sovereignty to an unaccountable global tribunal. We call on other ICC members to follow Naoero’s lead and withdraw from the Rome Statute.”
As the first nation to address this year’s UNGA general assembly, Naoero’s President David Adeang announced their withdrawl from the ICC and chastised the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for delays on agreeing on rules for deep sea mining.
Last year, President Trump signed Executive Order 14285 for “Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources” for seafloor mining.
It stated, “These resources are key to strengthening our economy, securing our energy future, and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers for critical minerals. The United States also controls seabed mineral resources in one of the largest ocean areas of the world. Our Nation can, through the exercise of existing authorities and by establishing international partnerships, access potentially vast resources in seabed polymetallic nodules; other subsea geologic structures; and coastal deposits containing strategic minerals such as nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, titanium, and rare earth elements, which are vital to our national security and economic prosperity.”
This year marks 50 years of diplomatic ties between Naoero (formally Nauru), and the United States, with bonds such as the South Pacific Tuna Treaty, Nauro Tower built by Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust in Honolulu, and the phosphate trade dating back into the 20th century.
While Naoero is only 8.1 square miles (21 sq km) in landmass, it controls 119,000 square miles (308,480 sq km) of strategic Pacific Ocean waters bordering Kiribati and the Federated States of Micronesia that are critical to the United States.
