Photo: Office of the President.
President Hilda C. Heine met Monday with top US government officials who visited Majuro briefly before heading to the FSM.
Heine and Cabinet members met with with Assistant Secretary of State Michael DeSombre and Acting Assistant Secretary of the Interior William Hague at the Cabinet Conference Room, as part of ongoing high-level engagement under the Compact of Free Association.
President Heine welcomed the visiting delegation and conveyed gratitude for recent US support, including the announced $13 million contribution toward reconstruction of the Nitijela building following last year’s fire, underscoring the shared commitment to democratic continuity, good governance, and institutional resilience.
Discussions covered progress and practical challenges in Compact implementation, including audit and reporting requirements. President Heine reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, noting steps taken to expedite review of the FY2023 audit report and acknowledging US Department of the Interior support that has strengthened audit capacity.
The meeting further addressed infrastructure delivery under the Compact, with President Heine highlighting the importance of practical flexibility in project requirements to reflect local market conditions and encourage meaningful participation by Marshallese contractors, while safeguarding accountability and quality standards.
President Heine also emphasized the need for continued government-to-government consultations on the implementation of Compact-funded programs, including health and community services, to ensure that agreed frameworks support effective service delivery and respond to local realities. Related discussions included the administration of Extraordinary Needs Distributions and the importance of shared understandings to maintain fiscal discipline and long-term sustainability.
Additional topics included trade concerns affecting Marshall Islands tuna exports, access to health care for Marshallese veterans, maritime security and economic resilience, and the enduring nuclear legacy. President Heine reaffirmed that these issues remain central to the well-being of the Marshallese people and to the long-term strength of the Compact partnership.
In closing, President Heine reiterated that the Compact is a living partnership grounded in trust, mutual respect, and problem-solving. She expressed confidence that continued dialogue and cooperation will ensure effective implementation and deliver lasting benefits for both nations, and thanked Assistant Secretary DeSombre and Acting Assistant Secretary Hague for their leadership and engagement.
Assistant Secretary of State Michael DeSombre “had a great meeting January 19 with President Heine, Foreign Minister Kaneko and other Cabinet members in Majuro,” said the US Embassy in a social media post this week. “They discussed the importance of the US-RMI Compact of Free Association and opportunities for deeper collaboration on economic development and strategic defense.”
The US delegation met with local business people and some church representatives while they were here Monday.