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Asia and Oceania
Republic of Marshall Islands |
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Country information
History
Recent history
In 1986 the Marshall Islands entered into a Compact of Free Association with the United States, establishing the Republic as an independent state with the right to make its own foreign policy decisions, but reserving to the US responsibility for defence. An amended Compact of Free Association was finally negotiated in 2003 and came into force on 1 May 2004. This agreement extends US funding for the next twenty years and allows the US continued use of Kwajalein Atoll as a US Military missile tracking station. The amended Compact followed two years of intensive negotiations to renew the fiscal and strategic relationship. The Compact is designed to wean the Marshall Islands off US support over the course of the twenty years. In December 1990 the UN Trusteeship in respect of the Marshall Islands was terminated.
Longer historical perspective
Before World War II the islands now known as the Republic of the Marshall Islands were a component of Japanese administered Mandated Territory set up by the League of Nations. After the war, in 1947, they became part of the UN Strategic Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI), administered by the United States. On 1 May 1979, in recognition of the evolving status of the Marshall Islands, the United States recognised the Constitution of the Marshall Islands and the establishment of the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The Constitution incorporates both American and British constitutional concepts.