Micronesia Sun Bright News from the Deep Pacific
Photo Sources: Office of the President, Republic of Palau, France’s Permanent Secretary to the Pacific
By Christopher Cottrell
April 22, 2026, Palau___Her Excellency Véronique Roger-Lacan, the French Ambassador and Permanent Secretary to the Pacific is making a historic engagement campaign between France and Micronesia—to Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and Marshall Islands.
Stuck on Pohnpei waiting out Typhoon Sinlaku, Ambassador Roger-Lacan spoke to Micronesia Sun about the overall French mission, sharing some snapshots from her first leg of the journey in Palau. Discussions in FSM were in progress when we spoke on Wednesday April 15, as she waited to fly to Marshall Islands. This is the first in a three part series of France’s campaign to connect French interests in the Pacific with Micronesia.
Building on French President Emmanuel Macron’s Pacific Islands trips to New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea to bolster France’s Indo-Pacific strategy in July of 2023, and his surprise visit to New Caledonia in May 2024 following unrest, Ambassador Roger-Lacan has a mandate to integrate cooperations between French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Wallis and Futuna with the greater Pacific.
Ambassador Roger-Lacan notes that France is warmly participating to support, “ the 2050 Blue Ocean Strategy…We identify with our French assets in French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Wallis and Futuna how we can contribute to regional cooperation and regional integration in the Pacific.”
That is why she and her team have, “come to Micronesia based on that. We have looked at whether and how we could support Micronesia in the regional discussions. We want to contribute as much as possible if it is needed to the participation of Micronesia in the regional dynamic.”
According to a statement from the Office of the President, Republic of Palau, “The visit marked an important step forward in the bilateral relationship between Palau and France.”
It noted, “During the meeting, both leaders explored several areas of opportunity for future cooperation, focusing on improving air travel connections, enhancing maritime security, and expanding educational opportunities.”
It added, “To conclude the visit, President Whipps expressed his gratitude to Ambassador Roger-Lacan for France’s continued partnership. He thanked the French government for its continued dedication to supporting Palau and the Pacific region.”
“President Whipps has a strong regional leadership as incoming Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). This is very much welcome, and it’s good for Micronesia,” Ambassador Roger-Lacan stated at an interview with TMC Palau. President Whipps will become chair during the 55th PIF Leaders Meeting from August 30 to September 4, 2026, under the theme “B.E.L.A.U – Building Economies: Life. Action. Unity.”
Already she says, “Coming here to Palau at least, President Whipps would be very interested in having Accor come in and invest, and open a hotel there.”
She remarks of her present mission to Micronesia, “We want to show the Micronesia states that we are very attentive to their needs. Of course, their needs in the field of security and defense are covered by their Compact of Free Association status [with the US], but if there is anything we can do to add on, we will. Plus, we have the Pacific Academy for training in the field of high level professional training in the fiel of security. These days there is an ongoing training in the field of cyber-security and we have representatives from FSM and Palau participating in this class.”
She points out that as part of France’s Indo-Pacific strategy of “implementing rules-based norms, the respect of multilateralism” in the Pacific, “we have seen in the regional organizations, Micronesia is a bit far away geographically from the centers of those organizations.”
She continues, “We want to get involved with Micronesia, not that we can make everything happen, but we are very interested in coordinating our positions with Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of Marshall Islands. In multilateralism, this is very interesting and important.”
She adds, “Where do we have mutual interest, and how do we support each other?”
Part two and three of this series will discuss this question further for the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands following the completion of Ambassador Roger-Lacan’s historic French-Micronesia trip.
