Washington, D.C. – H.E. Jackson Soram, Ambassador of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) to the United States, was invited as a guest speaker to address the International Club of Annapolis on November 6, 2024. The Club is a non-profit organization based in Annapolis, Maryland, whose mission is to bring together people who have interest in international affairs. Past invitees to the Club included government officials from within the U.S. federal and state governments and diplomats from foreign countries such as Japan, Germany, Canada, among others. Addressing the crowd of approximately 100 members whose background ranged from retired military personnel, former diplomats, prominent businessmen and entrepreneurs, Ambassador Soram provided an overview of the FSM focusing primarily on the Compact of Free Association with the United States. He addressed a wide range of issues including FSM’s economic development aspirations, culture, history, regional security, fisheries, and with great emphasis on the impacts of climate change on the FSM as a small island developing state. Ambassador Soram, who was accompanied by First Secretary Nena Waguk, embraced the opportunity to carry out the Embassy’s mandate to promote the FSM, especially to the neighborhoods of the Washington D.C., area, including Annapolis in Maryland. Participants at the event also included a few members who have visited Micronesia in the past including Pohnpei and Chuuk.
For more information on the International Club of Annapolis, please visit the link at https://icannapolis.org/
