Marshall Islands–United States relations

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Marshall Islands – United States relations
Map indicating locations of Marshall Islands and USA

Marshall Islands
United States

Marshall Islands–United States relations are

bilateral relations between Marshall Islands and the United States
.

History

Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine meets with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2019

During World War II, the United States took control of the islands from Japan (which governed them as part of the South Seas Mandate) in the 1944 Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign. The US military conducted nuclear testing on Bikini Atoll in 1946 through 1958. In 1965, the US government formed the Congress of Micronesia, a plan for increased self-governance of Pacific islands. The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1979 provided independence to the Marshall Islands, whose constitution and president were formally recognized by the US.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands is now a

UN
-observed plebiscite on September 7, 1983. The U.S. Congress subsequently approved the Compact, adding several amendments which were accepted by the Government of the Marshall Islands, and the Compact was entered into force on October 21, 1986. From 1999 to 2003, the two nations negotiated an Amended Compact that entered into force on May 1, 2004. Under the Amended Compact, the U.S. will provide the Marshall Islands at least $57 million every year until 2023, including contributions to a jointly managed Trust Fund. Marshallese will continue to have access to many U.S. programs and services. A Joint Economic Management and Financial Accountability Committee (JEMFAC) composed of representatives of both governments will ensure that Compact assistance funds are spent effectively.

Under the Compact, the United States has full authority and responsibility for security and defense of the Marshall Islands, and the Government of the Marshall Islands is obligated to refrain from taking actions that would be incompatible with these security and defense responsibilities.

The

U.S. Postal Service, the Small Business Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
operate programs or render assistance to the Marshall Islands.

In the United Nations, the Marshall Islands shows overwhelming support for the United States. In 2015, however, the Marshall Islands voted to condemn the US embargo over Cuba. The motion at the United Nations was supported by 191 member states, with two votes against (the United States and Israel) and no country abstaining.

recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The United States government had threatened to cut aid to states voting in favour of the motion.[3]

The United States and the Marshall Islands have full diplomatic relations. The Marshall Islands has expressed an interest in attracting U.S. investment.

Diplomatic missions

Washington D.C.

There is a U.S. Embassy located on Long Island, Majuro.

The principal U.S. Embassy officials include:

  • Ambassador – Vacant
  • Deputy Chief of Mission/Chargé d'Affaires Ad Interim – Jeremiah A. Knight

The Embassy of the Marshall Islands in

Northwest, Washington, D.C., in the Embassy Row neighborhood.[4]

The embassy also operates a Consulate-General in Honolulu, and another in Springdale, Arkansas.[5]

The ambassador is Charles R. Paul, who was accredited on September 9, 2011 following the death of his predecessor, Banny deBrum.[6]

Issues with Iran

On 28 April 2015 the

US defense officials have said that they would review their defense obligations to the Government of Marshall Islands in wake of the recent events and also condemned the shots fired at the bridge as "inappropriate". It was reported in May that Tehran would release the ship after a paid penalty.[7][8]

Wake Island dispute

The United States and the Marshall Islands governments both claim

unincorporated territory of the United States.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Marshall Islands". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  2. ^ "UN condemns Cuba embargo for 24th consecutive year", The Guardian, 27 October 2015
  3. ^ "Jerusalem: UN resolution rejects Trump's declaration", BBC News, 21 December 2017
  4. ^ "The Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands". Embassy.org. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  5. ^ "Embassy of Antigua and Barbuda in United States of America".
  6. ^ "Office of the President :: Republic of the Marshall Islands". Archived from the original on 2011-10-28. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
  7. ^ "Why the US probably won't go out of its way to free the cargo ship seized by Iran". Business Insider. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  8. ^ "Iran: We'll release the Marshal Islands-flagged cargo vessel after it pays a fine". Business Insider. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  9. ^ Wake Island. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State.

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