President Hilda Heine, middle, at her inauguration flanked by FSM's President Welsey Simina, left, and Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr, right. Photo: Facebook / Office of the President, Federated States of Micronesia
The United States President Joe Biden has signed into law the Compact of Free Association agreements after about a five-month delay.
The agreements passed the US Senate on Friday and has a combined dollar figure of $7.1 billion US dollars.
The new agreements include an additional 20 years of funding at higher levels for the freely associated states of Marshall Islands, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia.
RNZ Pacific correspondent Giff Johnson says after months of dysfunction, US Congress finally figured out how to pass the compacts.
He speaks with RNZ Pacific reporter Caleb Fotheringham.
