US veterans in Pacific nations still lack promised health services

Securing essential healthcare services for US military veterans from three North Pacific nations remains a persistent challenge. Despite the US Congress specifically authorizing in-country services by the US Veterans Administration for veterans of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and Palau, the Trump administration over a year ago suspended ongoing talks to implement services.

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Most importantly, the Compact legislation approved by the United States Congress specifically mandates the provision of VA services to the Freely Associated States. This was not intended to be a symbolic commitment, but a practical obligation reflecting the unique relationship between our nations.

All three island nations have been lobbying for years to get action for their hundreds of military veterans who, unlike American veterans, do not have easy access to Veterans Administration services unless they move to the United States. Marshall Islands Foreign Minister Kalani Kaneko, himself a US Army veteran, has been at the forefront of pushing US authorities to begin implementing healthcare for island veterans.

"Most importantly, the Compact legislation approved by the United States Congress specifically mandates the provision of VA services to the Freely Associated States," Kaneko said in an interview. "This was not intended to be a symbolic commitment, but a practical obligation reflecting the unique relationship between our nations." Islanders from the three Freely Associated States (FAS) are allowed by the treaties with the US to enlist in the US Armed Forces and do so at per capita rates generally higher than those of Americans.

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Marshallese citizens have served honorably in the United States Armed Forces for generations, often at one of the highest per-capita rates of military service in the world. The United States military continues to recruit in the Marshall Islands, and with that recruitment comes a shared responsibility to ensure veterans can access the care and benefits they earned through their service.

"Marshallese citizens have served honorably in the United States Armed Forces for generations, often at one of the highest per-capita rates of military service in the world," Kaneko said. "The United States military continues to recruit in the Marshall Islands, and with that recruitment comes a shared responsibility to ensure veterans can access the care and benefits they earned through their service." Kaneko said the discussions that the Veterans Administration halted over a year ago have not yet started. "Formal discussions have not fully resumed, and we have not yet received a definitive timeline from the US government regarding next steps," he said. But, he added, the government is continuing to advocate for its veterans "to ensure this issue remains a priority."

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Formal discussions have not fully resumed, and we have not yet received a definitive timeline from the US government regarding next steps.

In comments issued last month to the US Government Accountability Office, FSM's ambassador to the US Jackson Soram said based on the US Congress-approved Compact legislation, the "Freely Associated States had been in dialogue with the Veterans Administration on increased access to healthcare for FAS veterans." "In April 2025, after negotiations were underway, the Department of Veterans Affairs unexpectedly suspended the discussions that had been authorised by the US Congress." Soram said all three FAS governments want to resume discussions.

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Freely Associated States had been in dialogue with the Veterans Administration on increased access to healthcare for FAS veterans. In April 2025, after negotiations were underway, the Department of Veterans Affairs unexpectedly suspended the discussions that had been authorised by the US Congress.