States in A Formal Association
| Minor partner | Associated with | Level of association |
|---|---|---|
| Cook Islands | New Zealand, since 1965 |
New Zealand may act on behalf of the Cook Islands in foreign affairs and defence issues, but only when requested so by the Cook Islands Government and with its advice and consent. |
| Marshall Islands | United States, since 1986 |
United States provides defense, funding grants and access to U.S. social services for citizens of these areas under the Compact of Free Association. |
| Federated States of Micronesia | United States, since 1986 |
United States provides defense, funding grants and access to U.S. social services for citizens of these areas under the Compact of Free Association. |
| Niue | New Zealand, since 1974 |
New Zealand acts on behalf of Niue in foreign affairs and defence issues, but only when requested so by the Niue Government and with its advice and consent. |
| Palau | United States, since 1994 |
United States provides defense, funding grants and access to U.S. social services for citizens of these areas under the Compact of Free Association. |
The Commonwealth of the Philippines was the first associated state of the United States. From 1935-1946, the foreign affairs and military of the commonwealth were handled by the United States although it was otherwise constitutionally separate and independent in domestic matters.
The Federated States of Micronesia (since 1986), the Marshall Islands (since 1986), and Palau (since 1994), are associated with the United States under what is known as the Compact of Free Association, giving the states international sovereignty and ultimate control over their territory. However, the governments of those areas have agreed to allow the United States to provide defense; the U.S. federal government fund grants and access to U.S. social services for citizens of these areas. The United States benefits from its ability to use the islands as strategic military bases.
The Cook Islands and Niue are not dependencies of New Zealand, and are recognized sovereign states, and classified as "Non-member State" by the UN. In foreign relations with third countries and organizations both are formally referenced and recognitized as "independent and sovereign state" and they have bilateral relations of this type, in all but name, with New Zealand. For relations with New Zealand, the Cook Islands (since 1965) and Niue (since 1974) are still formally referred to in constitutional terms as "state in free association with New Zealand" instead of "independent and sovereign state", because they retained a residual constitutional link with New Zealand in relation to citizenship. Nevertheless, the Cook Islands and Niue have full independence and sovereignty in all other domains, and the residual citizenship link is reduced to the usage of New Zealand passport and privileges of New Zealand citizens for Cook Islanders and Niueans while in New Zealand. The Cook Islands and Niue have established their own nationality and immigration regimes.
Tokelau (a dependent territory of New Zealand) voted on a referendum in February 2006 to determine whether it wanted to remain a New Zealand territory or become the third state in free association with New Zealand. While a majority of voters chose free association, the vote did not meet the two-thirds threshold needed for approval. A repeat referendum in October 2007 under United Nations supervision yielded similar results, with the proposed free association falling 16 votes short of approval.
Read more about this topic: Associated State
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