The Peace Corps has signed a letter of intent to establish the North Pacific program with the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau, according to announcements issued last week from Palau during the Pacific Islands Forum.
US State Department Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau announced that Peace Corps is returning to RMI after 30 years, and to Palau and the FSM after a gap of nearly 10 years. He signed an agreement with the three freely associated state presidents — Surangel Whipps, Jr., Wesley Simina, and Hilda Heine — during the Forum last week.
“This step builds on decades of partnership,” said the US government in a social media post. “More than 4,400 volunteers served in Micronesia and Palau between 1966 and 2018, and more than 140 served in the Marshall Islands from 1966 to 1996.
The agency completed its re-opening of Peace Corps/Palau in July this year.