The Republic of the Marshall Islands is now a sovereign state in free association with the United States. After more than a decade of negotiation, the Marshall Islands and the United States signed a Compact of Free Association on June 25, 1983.[1] The people of the Marshall Islands approved the Compact in 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 Department of Defense, under a subsidiary government-to-government agreement of the original Compact, has use of the lagoon and several islands on Kwajalein Atoll. The atoll consists of approximately 90 islets around the largest lagoon in the world. The original agreement allowed the United States continued use of the U.S. Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll (USAG-KA), home to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, until 2016. An amendment to that agreement, extending U.S. rights until 2066 with an option until 2086, was negotiated in conjunction with the Amended Compact. Another major subsidiary agreement of the original Compact provides for settlement of all claims arising from the U.S. nuclear tests conducted at Bikini and Enewetak Atolls from 1946 to 1958. Under the terms of free association, more than 40 U.S. Government agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration, 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.[2] In December 2017, the Marshall Islands was one of just nine countries (including the United States and Israel) to vote against a motion adopted by the United Nations General Assembly condemning the United States' 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.
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 Iranian navy seized the Marshall Island-flagged MV Maersk Tigris near the Strait of Hormuz. The ship had been charted by Germany's Rickmers ship management, who stated that the ship contained no special cargo including military weapons. The ship was reported to be under the control of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard according to the Pentagon amid escalating tensions in the region due to the intensifying of Saudi-led coalition attacks in Yemen. The Pentagon reported that the destroyer USS Farragut and a maritime reconnaissance aircraft were dispatched upon receiving a distress call from the ship Tigris and was also reported that all 34 crew members were detained. 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 Wake Island, which puts the United States armed forces in the ambiguous position of defending US territory while acting as guarantor (under the Compact of Free Association) of the territorial integrity of a state with which it is involved in a territorial dispute. The United States claims Wake Island as an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States.[9]
References
^"Marshall Islands". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
^"UN condemns Cuba embargo for 24th consecutive year", The Guardian, 27 October 2015
^"Jerusalem: UN resolution rejects Trump's declaration", BBC News, 21 December 2017
^"The Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands". Embassy.org. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
^"Embassy of Antigua and Barbuda in United States of America".
^. Archived from the original on 2011-10-28. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
^"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.
^"Iran: We'll release the Marshal Islands-flagged cargo vessel after it pays a fine". Business Insider. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
marshall, islands, united, states, relations, bilateral, relations, between, marshall, islands, united, states, marshall, islands, united, states, relationsmarshall, islands, united, states, contents, history, diplomatic, missions, issues, with, iran, wake, is. Marshall Islands United States relations are bilateral relations between Marshall Islands and the United States Marshall Islands United States relationsMarshall Islands United States Contents 1 History 2 Diplomatic missions 3 Issues with Iran 4 Wake Island dispute 5 ReferencesHistory Edit 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 sovereign state in free association with the United States After more than a decade of negotiation the Marshall Islands and the United States signed a Compact of Free Association on June 25 1983 1 The people of the Marshall Islands approved the Compact in 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 Department of Defense under a subsidiary government to government agreement of the original Compact has use of the lagoon and several islands on Kwajalein Atoll The atoll consists of approximately 90 islets around the largest lagoon in the world The original agreement allowed the United States continued use of the U S Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll USAG KA home to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site until 2016 An amendment to that agreement extending U S rights until 2066 with an option until 2086 was negotiated in conjunction with the Amended Compact Another major subsidiary agreement of the original Compact provides for settlement of all claims arising from the U S nuclear tests conducted at Bikini and Enewetak Atolls from 1946 to 1958 Under the terms of free association more than 40 U S Government agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration 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 2 In December 2017 the Marshall Islands was one of just nine countries including the United States and Israel to vote against a motion adopted by the United Nations General Assembly condemning the United States 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 Edit Marshall Islands embassy in 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 Charge d Affaires Ad Interim Jeremiah A KnightThe Embassy of the Marshall Islands in Washington D C is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the United States It is located at 2433 Massachusetts Avenue 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 EditOn 28 April 2015 the Iranian navy seized the Marshall Island flagged MV Maersk Tigris near the Strait of Hormuz The ship had been charted by Germany s Rickmers ship management who stated that the ship contained no special cargo including military weapons The ship was reported to be under the control of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard according to the Pentagon amid escalating tensions in the region due to the intensifying of Saudi led coalition attacks in Yemen The Pentagon reported that the destroyer USS Farragut and a maritime reconnaissance aircraft were dispatched upon receiving a distress call from the ship Tigris and was also reported that all 34 crew members were detained 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 EditThe United States and the Marshall Islands governments both claim Wake Island which puts the United States armed forces in the ambiguous position of defending US territory while acting as guarantor under the Compact of Free Association of the territorial integrity of a state with which it is involved in a territorial dispute The United States claims Wake Island as an unorganized unincorporated territory of the United States 9 References Edit Marshall Islands U S Department of State Retrieved 2017 07 05 UN condemns Cuba embargo for 24th consecutive year The Guardian 27 October 2015 Jerusalem UN resolution rejects Trump s declaration BBC News 21 December 2017 The Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands Embassy org Retrieved 2022 03 20 Embassy of Antigua and Barbuda in United States of America Office of the President Republic of the Marshall Islands Archived from the original on 2011 10 28 Retrieved 2011 10 27 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 Iran We ll release the Marshal Islands flagged cargo vessel after it pays a fine Business Insider Retrieved 2017 07 05 Wake Island The World Factbook Central Intelligence Agency This article incorporates public domain material from U S Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets United States Department of State Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marshall Islands United States relations amp oldid 1152450693 Diplomatic missions, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
