Micronesia president says US beefing up military capabilities in the Pacific country

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The US is considering military projects across the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) as it pushes ahead with plans for a $400m airport upgrade in the country to boost defence capabilities in the Pacific, President Wesley Simina said. The region is of growing strategic importance to the US amid a battle for influence with China. FSM has been identified as a key part of the US Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at countering Beijing in the region. An agreement between the US and FSM, known as the Compact of Free Association (Cofa), gives FSM funding and support, while the US gains exclusive...