Photo: National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa
Pacific Foreign Ministers have given United States territories Guam and American Samoa their nod of approval to be associate members of the Pacific Islands Forum.
An expert in Pacific politics says it means the US is getting closer to the action and it's geo-politics at play.
Meanwhile, France has approved a high-level Pacific mission to New Caledonia.
RNZ Pacific's Caleb Fotheringham has more.
