The increasing integration of renewable energy sources into power grids has led to an increasing prevalence of weakly interconnected grids, which are more susceptible to stability issues such as inter-area oscillations. This study addresses these challenges by investigating the coordinated tuning of STATCOM-POD controllers using Particle Swarm Optimization and the Novel Bat Algorithm within DIgSILENT PowerFactory. Two network models are employed: a simple two-area system and the PST16 bus system, both characterized by weak interconnections that exacerbate stability issues. The optimization process aims to improve the damping of inter-area oscillations by fine-tuning multiple POD controllers, evaluated by temporal and eigenvalue analysis. The findings underscore the critical role of advanced optimization techniques in enhancing stability and damping performance in power systems increasingly impacted by weak interconnections and variable generation sources.