US Compacts of Free Association: What Next?
Now that it is well established that “enhanced commonwealth” is off the table as a political status for the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, the term “free association” has grown in prominence as a way of describing a similar option to end Puerto Rico’s colonial status. It is convenient timing to note that the three existing “free association” relationships the U.S. has with other nations will expire in 2023 or 2024. These upcoming expirations provide openings for Puerto Rican voters to get a sense of what would be involved should they pursue a similar compact of free association with the U.S.
The Free Associated States
There are three nations in free association with the United States: the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. All three are independent nations whose citizens are not citizens of the United States. Each has a Compact of Free Association (COFA), a bilateral agreement negotiated between the United States government and the government of the other nation.
The COFAs of these three nations are set to expire, the one with Palau in 2024 and the others in 2023. All three nations have reached out to the federal government of the United States in efforts to renegotiate the COFAs, but no progress has been made. The Marshall Islands has not had a meeting on the subject since 2020, according to The Diplomat, which lays out the strategic importance of the relationships for the United States.
COFAs are not permanent
The Compact of Free Association for each nation is a bilateral agreement with a specific endpoint.
All three Pacific nations allow the United States unlimited access to their land and waters for military and national security purposes. In return, the citizens of these nations can live and work in the United States as non-citizens, and the U.S. provides limited financial support to the sovereign entities.
Read more: https://www.puertoricoreport.com/us-compacts-of-free-association-what-next/