US to sign strategic pacts with two Pacific states, hopes for third in weeks

US to sign strategic pacts with two Pacific states, hopes for third in weeks

By David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States will sign new strategic pacts with the Pacific island states of Palau and Micronesia early next week and hopes to do so with the Marshall islands in coming weeks, the U.S. presidential envoy negotiating the deals said. Joseph Yun told Reuters the Palau agreement would be formally signed in the presence of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. in…