US, Micronesia Sign Pact to Deepen Ties Amid China’s Growing Influence

David Panuelo of Federated States of Micronesia speaks during the Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand, on April 18, 2013. Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

The United States and Micronesia signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Feb. 10 reaffirming their close ties, a pact considered crucial to the U.S. efforts to counter Beijing’s growing influence in the Pacific.

The State Department noted that the MOU reflected a “shared understanding reached on levels and types of future U.S. assistance to be requested for the Federated States of Micronesia.”