Compact countries urge more US engagement

US Congressional leaders have ramped up pressure on the White House to elevate focus on negotiations over Compacts of Free Association with the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau.

Ten Congress members signed a letter this month to Jack Sullivan, who is a national security advisor at the White House, to express deep concerns over stalled negotiations, raising the specter of China's increasing influence in the region.

Last month, the Marshall Islands Foreign Minister Casten Nemra told a US Congressional hearing on the Marshall Islands there had been no formal negotiations this year and none were scheduled.

The primary concern of an increasing number of Congressional leaders in both parties is that these important negotiations with the freely associated states are being managed by low-level representatives of the US government who do not have authority to address negotiating issues that need to be handled in the Compact talks.