Freely Associated States · Micronesia

The Compact States: Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau

ISPI research and analysis relevant to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau, the three Freely Associated States under the Compacts of Free Association.

Research hub

ISPI research on Compact States

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the Republic of Palau are the Freely Associated States, linked to the United States through the Compacts of Free Association. ISPI has not yet published a paper dedicated to the Compact states; this hub gathers the ISPI research and analysis that covers them.

Key issues in ISPI's research

Compacts

20 more years of economic assistance

Congress approved the 2023 Compact agreements through the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2024, signed March 9, 2024. The agreements provide about $7.1 billion for FY2024–FY2043, including about $3.3 billion for the FSM, $2.3 billion for the RMI and $889 million for Palau, plus $634 million for U.S. Postal Service operations. Sources: U.S. Department of the Interior ↗, Congressional Research Service ↗.

Research gap

Largely invisible in policy research

ISPI's PB-03 describes the Freely Associated States, along with American Samoa and the CNMI, as largely invisible in mainstream think tank research, and recommends dedicated research and direct policy input channels for island agencies.

Maritime security

Training versus operations

ISPI's Operation Irensia 2026 analysis looks at patrol boat crews from Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands training in Guam, and the gap between exercises and day-to-day operations.

Regional security

A missile test over the region

In July 2026 a Chinese submarine-launched ballistic missile test flew over the exclusive economic zones of several Pacific states, including the FSM, before landing near Tuvalu's EEZ (ABC News ↗). ISPI's analysis covers the Pacific response.