Micronesia Sun Bright News from the Deep Pacific
Photo Sources: Australian Embassy to the Federated States of Micronesia and U.S. Embassy Kolonia
By Christopher Cottrell
March 23, 2026, Federated States of Micronesia___President Wesely Simina and First Lady Ancelly Simina made their first trip down under for “Koala Diplomacy” this week, as the U.S. Army’s Oceania Engagement Team arrived in the islands to support local security resistance.
Over the past several months, Australia and the United States have been fostering greater resilience and engagement campaigns in the FSM, reaching out to their Pacific Islands neighbors for high-tech peace and prosperity as the island nation of some 114,000 people gets plugged in with the East Micronesia Cable System.
Of their first official state visit to Australia at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Australia, Jenny Grant-Curnow, Australia’s FSM Ambassador, stated, “We are delighted to welcome President Simina, the First Lady, and FSM delegation to Australia as we celebrate our close friendship and shared values.”
The Australian Embassy to FSM further stated that President Simina was also given technical tours of, “Australia’s Pacific Policing Development Coordination Hub and Humanitarian Logistics Capability Warehouse,” according to a statement from the Australian Embassy, Federated States of Micronesia. It added that the tour demonstrated, “Australia’s close cooperation with our Pacific family on policing, supported through training, coordination, and operational planning. The visit also highlighted Australia’s capacity to respond quickly in times of crises, with systems in place to mobilise and deliver life saving assistance across the region.” The move follows a recent groundbreaking on Pohnpei of a new Humanitarian Warehouse funded by Australia.
U.S. Army Oceania Engagement Team
Staying strong with security, the FSM also recently welcomed the U.S. Army’s Oceania Engagement Team (OET), with U.S. Ambassador to the FSM Jennifer Johnson saying, “The arrival of the U.S. Army’s Oceania Engagement Team demonstrates the United States’ commitment to supporting FSM and the Pacific region. We are proud to collaborate on initiatives that promote security, resilience, and prosperity for all.”
In a press release from the U.S. Embassy Kolonia, Major Richbert Sim, Team Leader of the Oceania Engagement Team in Yap, was quoted as saying, “The OET is dedicated to the overall stability, sustainability, sovereignty, and security of communities all across the FSM further solidifying the partnership and mutual collaboration between the United States and the FSM.”
Last March of 2025, President Simina and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth released a joint statement that they had, “reached a mutual understanding to enable” the U.S. Department of War, “to begin planning and construction on key infrastructure projects in the State of Yap,” especially the airport and seaport with funds, “estimated to exceed two billion dollars.”
The OET is scheduled to stay in FSM until January 2027, according to the U.S. Embassy Kolonia.
The move is part of the U.S. commitment to the FSM, Freely Associated States, Pacific Islands, and greater Indo-Pacific region.
