Statement on Appointment of Special Presidential Envoy to Lead Compact Renewal Negotiations with the Freely Associated States

WASHINGTON—Today, Representatives Ed Case (HI-01), Ami Bera (CA-07), Steve Chabot (OH-01), and Brad Sherman (CA-30), all co-chairs of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus, released the following statement regarding the announcement of Ambassador Joseph Yun as the Special Presidential Envoy to head negotiations with the Freely Associated States—the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau—to extend the Compacts of Free Association: 

We have called on the Administration to elevate and consolidate negotiations on the Compacts of Free Association in a high-level appointee in order to complete agreement as soon as possible. We, therefore, welcome the appointment of Ambassador Joseph Yun as the Special Presidential Envoy for Compact Negotiations. Ambassador Yun is an accomplished diplomat, and we are encouraged by this positive step.

 Our special relationships with the Freely Associated States are critical to our mutual development, to advancing our shared partnerships with our friends and allies throughout the Pacific, and to our joint effort to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. A key component of these relationships are the Compacts of Free Association. They must be renewed expeditiously. 

We look forward to working with Ambassador Yun and the Administration as they seek to complete negotiations and obtain approval by Congress.