Charles Chieng becomes Yap governor (9 Jan) and Tulensa Palik Kosrae governor (10 Jan).
Source: WorldStatesmen
This era overlaps Free association (1982–2026), Politics and society since 1979 (1979–2026), so some events appear in both lists.
Open this era in the interactive timeline · Read the chapter
2023
Merlynn Abello-Alfonso becomes the first Pohnpeian woman senator; Konman is re-elected.
Source: PacWIP
Outgoing President Panuelo’s 13-page letter accuses China of “political warfare” and floats recognizing Taiwan; Beijing calls it “smears”.
Source: Al Jazeera
Congress elects Wesley Simina of Chuuk as 10th president and re-elects Aren Palik as VP.
Compact III agreements signed in Palikir, after the planned Port Moresby signing was cancelled.
Source: gov.fm
All nine constitutional amendments pass, including dual citizenship; Yoslyn Sigrah wins Kosrae’s at-large special election.
Senators from three states vote not to seat Sigrah; Kosrae Senator Welly raises secession.
Source: Pacific Island Times
Simina ratifies the nine amendments.
Source: Wikipedia, 2023 referendum
The 2023 census counts 75,817 people, about 26% fewer than in 2010.
Source: GAO-26-107778
2024
Stevenson Joseph becomes Pohnpei governor.
Source: WorldStatesmen
Biden signs Public Law 118-42, enacting $3.3B in Compact III funding through FY2043.
Simina declares a state of emergency over nationwide drought.
Source: gov.fm, Mar 2024
Simina and a US Deputy Secretary of State exchange notes bringing the renewed Compact into force.
Source: gov.fm, Mar 2024
The 26th Micronesian Islands Forum ends in Guam with a joint communiqué.
Source: gov.fm, Jun 2024
Akihiko Tanaka is the first sitting JICA president to visit the FSM.
Source: gov.fm, Jun 2024
Former second president John Haglelgam dies in Honolulu.
Source: gov.fm, Sep 2024
VP Palik opens the 19th PNA (Parties to the Nauru Agreement) ministerial meeting in Pohnpei.
Source: gov.fm, Sep 2024
In New York, the US, FSM, Marshall Islands and Palau sign a joint statement on the Compacts; Simina meets Biden.
Source: gov.fm, Sep 2024
Yap biosecurity facility handed over (17 Dec); FSM and US extend the humanitarian-assistance annex of the military-use agreement (18 Dec).
Source: gov.fm, 2024
2025
India’s Minister of State for External Affairs makes the first visit to the FSM at that level.
Source: gov.fm, Jan 2025
A Starlink gateway goes live on Kosrae.
Source: gov.fm, Mar 2025
Ambassadors of the three Freely Associated States meet US officials over the executive orders and the pause in foreign assistance.
Source: gov.fm, Feb 2025
Midterm election for 10 of 14 seats; Jermy Mudong unseats Floor Leader Quincy Lawrence and Andy Choor wins in Yap.
Disputed Chuuk governor’s election: rival election commissions and uncounted ballots. Narruhn declares an emergency (10 Apr); a scuffle breaks out at his 15 Apr swearing-in.
Source: Island Times
Simina makes an official working visit to Japan and meets Prime Minister Ishiba.
Source: gov.fm, Mar 2025
FSM submits its Strategic Development Plan; GAO later says it lacked key performance indicators and baselines.
Source: GAO-26-107778
In Guam, Hegseth and Simina hold the first bilateral of the new US administration; $400M announced for the Yap airport.
VP Palik represents the FSM at the opening of World Expo 2025 in Osaka.
Source: gov.fm, Apr 2025
24th Congress convenes: Moses stays Speaker, Romolow Vice Speaker, Marar Floor Leader.
Source: Congress of the FSM
Governor Charles Chieng dies and Lt. Gov. Francis Itimai succeeds him. Chieng’s death date is given as about 22 May or as 28 May.
Simina attends the UN Ocean Conference in Nice and signs a treaty there.
Source: gov.fm, Jun 2025
US Defense Department gives notice of an environmental impact statement for upgrades to Yap’s airport and seaport.
Source: gov.fm, Jun 2025
Simina attends the 27th Micronesian Islands Forum in Majuro and meets a US Interior official.
Source: gov.fm, Jul 2025
World Bank-supported National Revenue Management System launched.
Source: gov.fm, Aug 2025
FSM presents its second Voluntary National Review on the Sustainable Development Goals at the UN.
Source: gov.fm, Aug 2025
Simina calls on Emperor Naruhito; FSM National Day at Expo 2025 presents “KAMORALE.”
Source: gov.fm, Aug 2025
Tsunami watch issued for the FSM.
Source: gov.fm, Jul 2025
East Micronesia Cable lands in Kosrae; SubTel Forum reports the landing in early September.
US Navy’s Pacific Partnership 2025 humanitarian mission opens in Chuuk.
Source: gov.fm, Aug 2025
State funeral for former Yap governor Robert A. Ruecho.
Source: gov.fm, Aug 2025
Interior warns it may withhold Compact funds over late audits; FSM agrees to redirect $1M to audit capacity.
Source: GAO-26-107778
Simina leads the delegation to the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Honiara.
Source: gov.fm, Sep 2025
Former president Joseph Urusemal dies in Palau, aged 73.
Simina addresses UNGA80 and meets President Trump on the sidelines.
Source: gov.fm, Sep 2025
Akillino Susaia is accredited as the FSM’s first ambassador to the European Union.
Source: gov.fm, Oct 2025
New Financial Management Information System launched.
Special election: Andrew Yatilman wins Urusemal’s former Yap at-large seat; certified 19 Nov.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Lorin S. Robert dies at 69; state funeral and Pohnpeian burial rites follow.
Source: gov.fm, Nov 2025
The president allocates $200,000 in relief after an oil leak from a WWII wreck at Uman.
Source: gov.fm, Nov 2025
Compact Trust Fund balance reaches $1.98B.
Source: GAO-26-107778
Groundbreaking for the Ganir Bridge in Yap; the national tax-reform task force finishes consultations in all four states.
Source: gov.fm, Dec 2025
2026
Congress seats Andrew Yatilman as Yap’s four-year senator at its Third Regular Session.
Source: Congress of the FSM
Compact Trust Fund reaches $2 billion; Simina meets the trust fund committee.
Source: gov.fm, Jan 2026
High-level consultations with a US delegation (21 Jan); countdown marks the cable that will link all four states (22 Jan).
Source: gov.fm, Jan 2026
Simina meets Palau President Whipps in Chuuk.
Source: gov.fm, Jan 2026
FSM-funded Woleai airport opens, dedicated to the late President Urusemal.
Source: gov.fm, Feb 2026
Fourth Chief Executive Council meets in Kosrae and launches the Strategic Development Plan 2024–2043.
Source: gov.fm, Feb 2026
Proclamation of mourning for former Speaker Nelson Pelep; government monitors fuel prices and supply.
Source: gov.fm, Mar 2026
Simina visits Australia: meets Albanese, dedicates the FSM embassy in Canberra (24 Mar), signs security MOUs (29 Mar).
Source: gov.fm, Mar 2026
Super Typhoon Sinlaku hits Chuuk Lagoon: over 34,000 affected and about 4,200 displaced. Death toll reported as 1, 4, 5 or 7.
Chuuk declares an emergency (12 Apr) and the President’s Sinlaku emergency declaration follows (13 Apr).
Simina launches the first Pacific Angel medical exercise held in the FSM, in Chuuk.
Source: gov.fm, Apr 2026
GAO-26-107778 reports late audits, slow Compact III disbursement and construction bottlenecks.
Source: GAO-26-107778
Ricky Cantero sworn in as Foreign Affairs Secretary. The session ends 22 May after extending the Chuuk emergency to 16 Sep.
FSM–US Joint Committee on defense and security meets in Guam.
Source: gov.fm, Jun 2026
FSM and Timor-Leste establish diplomatic relations by joint communiqué.
Source: gov.fm, Jul 2026
Adm. Paparo writes that the FSM’s $1.3B compensation demand for the Yap defense site is unreasonable and that alternative sites will be assessed.
Source: PINA / The Diplomat
Third Special Session of the 24th Congress convenes; Simina outlines priority matters.
Simina opens the four-day KAMORALE Expo 2026 in Pohnpei.
Source: gov.fm, Jul 2026
First Kitti Memorial Day honors the 179 Kitti men sent to Kosrae during WWII.
Source: gov.fm, Jul 2026
In a letter to Yap Governor Itimai, Simina acknowledges a “possible setback” on the Yap defense project.
Source: PINA / The Diplomat
Simina vetoes Congressional Acts 24-119 and 24-103, then signs other priority legislation.
Source: gov.fm, Aug 2026
Simina meets RADM Joshua Lasky on the Yap Defense Site Project (release dated 12 Aug).
Source: gov.fm
Fifth Chief Executive Council (president, vice president and four governors) meets in Chuuk.
Source: gov.fm, Aug 2026
At the Forum meeting in Palau, Simina chairs the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders talanoa, signs for an ADB North Pacific office, and joins leaders restoring the Peace Corps.
Source: gov.fm, Oct 2026
Simina makes an official working visit to Japan and holds a summit with Prime Minister Takaichi on 23 Oct.
UN Day statement reaffirms the FSM’s UN membership since 1991.
Source: gov.fm, Oct 2026
UNESCO keeps Nan Madol on the Danger List and wants a plan aligned with Pohnpeian living traditions.
Source: UNESCO Decision 48 COM 7A.25
Gaps and conflicting sources
Notes from the research chronology for the years this era covers.
Free association · Politics and society since 1979 · Recent years, 2003–2026
Years with no event found: none. Every year from 2003 to 2026 has at least three rows.
Thinly sourced years:
- 2012 and 2013 rest partly on archive headlines and Wikipedia.
- 2016 and 2017 have only four rows each.
Conflicting dates kept in the table
- Simina’s start as Chuuk governor. 19 Apr 2005 (WorldStatesmen) or July 2005 (gov.fm).
- 4th Convention delegate election. 4 Nov 2019 or 5 Nov 2019; both dates come from Wikipedia pages.
- Chuuk veto override. 6 Dec 2018 (Pacific Island Times), against Wikipedia’s 6 Dec 2019.
- Typhoon Wutip. 22 Feb 2019 (Pacific Island Times, April 2019) or 11 Mar (Pacific Island Times, March 2019). The February declaration supports late February.
- Konman’s election. 12 Nov 2021 (election day) or 29 Nov 2021 (certification).
- Forum walkout. 8 or 9 Feb 2021.
- Chieng’s death. About 22 May 2025, or 28 May 2025 per a gov.fm summary.
- East Micronesia Cable landing. 18 Aug 2025 (gov.fm) or early September 2025 (SubTel Forum).
- Sinlaku. Death toll reported as 1 (Wikipedia), 4 (PINA), 5 plus 1 missing (WHO) or 7 (OCHA preliminary). Wikipedia also dates landfall to 17 Apr, against 9–12 Apr in UN reports.
Not found
- Exact polling dates for the 2015 elections (inferred as about 3 Mar 2015 because the Chuuk plebiscite was set to coincide) and for the 2023 elections (7 Mar is supported only through PacWIP).
- Outcome of the April 2013 Chuuk governor’s run-off. WorldStatesmen implies Elimo stayed in office.
- Content of the July 2026 special session.
- Exact day of the 2016 UNESCO inscription. The decision page gives only the 40th session in Istanbul.
Sources that could not be used
- UH ScholarSpace annual “Micronesia in Review” articles, the best year-by-year source, sit behind an access check and were not consulted for this site.
- The Chinese foreign ministry page on Christian’s March 2017 China visit could not be opened, so that visit is omitted.