In the 17th century, the islands that now make up the Micronesia Federation were colonized by Spain. Germany bought the islands from Spain in 1899. In 1914 they were occupied by Japan, and by US forces in 1944-1945.
In 1947, the islands became part of a UN area of supervision, administered by the United States Pacific area. The UN formally abolished the status of supervisory area in 1990, and the following year the Micronesia Federation was granted full membership of the UN.
The islands have since 1986 had free association with the United States as an associated state through a free association agreement. A revised version of the Compact of Free Association came into force in 2003 and is expected to be valid until 2023. Under the agreement, the federation is a sovereign, autonomous state, but foreign policy is to be pursued after “close consultations” with the United States.
- Countryaah: Check to see the location of Micronesia on the world map. Also covers major mountains, rivers and lakes in Micronesia.
The Micronesia Federation and the Marshall Islands, which signed a similar agreement with the United States in 2003, regularly agree with the United States in international forums. To see more information other than history, please visit Abbreviationfinder to learn more about climate, population, government, and economy for the country of Micronesia. Defense is provided by the United States, which has access to the strategically located islands for financial assistance.
Micronesia Geopolitical Atlas
The Federated States of Micronesia are made up of four states associated in a federal system and made up of four groups of islands. The Federation includes 607 islands of very small dimensions, scattered over a very large oceanic surface in the homonymous geographical region. Following the Second World War, the United States obtained a mandate from the United Nations in 1947 to administer the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The mandate included, in addition to Micronesia, the Marshalls, Palau and the Northern Marianas. While the latter, in 1978, chose to remain linked to the USA, in 1979 four groups of islands – Pohnpei, Chuuk, Yap and Kosrae – formed the Federated States of Micronesia and adopted their own Constitution, which is still the basis of the structure today. institutional. However, independence came only seven years later, with the entry into force of the Pact of Free Association with the United States, under which Washington, in exchange for the exclusive right to operate militarily on Micronesian territory and the constraint to consultation, he undertook to provide for the security of the country, still without its own army, and to assist it economically. Furthermore, Micronesian citizens were able to live and work in the United States on equal terms with American citizens and not with the still without its own army, and to assist it economically. Furthermore, Micronesian citizens were able to live and work in the United States on equal terms with American citizens and not with the still without its own army, and to assist it economically. Furthermore, Micronesian citizens were able to live and work in the United States on equal terms with American citizens and not with the status of immigrants. The Free Association Pact also provides that citizens of the former Trust Territory can voluntarily enlist in the US armed forces, which in fact represent a job outlet and guarantee a salary significantly above the Micronesian average. Despite Washington’s overwhelming influence, China is also a key partner for Micronesia. Beginning in 1989, the year in which diplomatic relations began, a growing flow of investments, economic aid and tourists arrived from Beijing. The Micronesian political system is based on a unicameral parliament made up of 14 members, four of whom (senators) in office for four years and representing the individual states that make up the Federation; the remaining ten are elected at the district level and for a term of only two years. President and vice president are elected by parliament from among the four senators, but the central government delegates most of the prerogatives to the governments of the individual states, each of which has its own constitution and maintains a key role in the distribution of economic resources. The Micronesian economy is among the smallest in the world in terms of GDP and is based on subsistence agriculture and fishing. If we consider that more than a third of GDP is made up of international aid, we understand the fragility of the system. The US has undertaken to guarantee economic assistance, as envisaged by the renegotiation of the Pact of Free Association in 2004, which provides for a payment of 2.1 million dollars until 2024. in the first place, but also health and public institutions) more than the economic structure. In addition to triggering a mechanism of dependence on foreign countries, a negative factor for growth is the lack of development of the private sector and the preponderance of the public as a source of employment. The structural problems, combined with the scarcity of resources, therefore make external aid vital, also because other economic sectors with great potential (especially tourism) are penalized by the isolated geographical position and the lack of infrastructure. It is no coincidence that Micronesia has one of the highest per capita migration rates in the world (21 people per thousand residents emigrated in 2014); a fact which, however, thanks to the high birth rate, has not compromised the maintenance of the current demographic balance.