| | |
Australia | Micronesia |
|---|---|
Australia–Federated States of Micronesia relations are the bilateral relations between Australia and Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Australia was the first country to start diplomatic relations with FSM in 1987 and is one of the four countries that have resident ambassadors to Micronesia. The two countries are members of the Pacific Islands Forum. [1]
Between 2006 and 2013, Australia was the third largest donor of aid to the Federated States of Micronesia, behind Japan and the United States.[ citation needed ]
The rise of copra in Micronesia during the 1870s attracted foreign traders, including those from Australia. Andrew Farrell, an Australian trader, wrote in his journal:
In return for copra, islanders first demanded tobacco, and it had to be the best. Scores of other articles were in demand, like cloths, axes and knives, hand sowing machines, scissors, needles and thread, mirrors and cones, hooks and line, pots and pans, mouth organs, rice, hard biscuits, beads, perfume and, in the Gilberts and Marshalls, rifles, flintlock muskets, revolvers, powder and shot.
— Andrew Farrell, [2]
Australia became one of the first countries in the Oceanian region to gain independence in 1901, while several islands within the Micronesian archipelagos collectively became an independent nation known as the Federated States of Micronesia in 1986.
In 1988, former President of FSM, John Haglelgam paid an official visit to Canberra. [3]
Australia assists FSM in maritime security under its 'Pacific Patrol Boat Program'. As part of the program, Australia has been providing Pacific class patrol vessels to FSM to be used in ensuring maritime surveillance, law enforcement, emergency relief operations, apprehending and preventing sea-borne security threats and delivering needed government services to outlying remote islands in the federation. [4] [5]
At a handover ceremony in Henderson, Western Australia in March 2022, FSM received the first of two Guardian-class Patrol Boats from Australia. [6]
The Federated States of Micronesia has supported Australia at various international and regional forums, as shown by the FSM government's support for the Canberra-led peace effort in the Solomon Islands, known as RAMSI. [7]
The Australian government launched the $320 million Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development program in 2012, to improve the political, economic and social opportunities of Pacific women, including in FS Micronesia. [8]
In 2012, then President Joseph Urusemal appreciated Australian assistance to FSM and said, "Australia has been very helpful during these past many years." In 2013, a member of the Micronesian Congress visited Australia to discuss the bilateral cooperation in sports for the youth development in FSM. [9]
Between 2012 and 2016, the Australian government claims to have educated 8,500 school children in FS Micronesia (and the Marshall Islands) about climate change mitigation and disaster risk management. [8] Since 2012, they have also assisted 26 Micronesians in gaining tertiary qualifications. [8]
In 2019-20, the Australian government provided an estimated $8.4 million in total Official Development Assistance (ODA) to FS Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands. [8]
on 27 May 2021, Australian Ambassador to FSM Jo Cowley met President David W. Panuelo, who stated "Australia has shown... that it is a true friend of the FSM... in ways both measurable and immeasurable." [7]
Australia, along with Japan and the United States, pledged a new undersea internet cable for Nauru, Kiribati and the Federated States of Micronesia during December 2021. [10]
The Federated States of Micronesia, or simply Micronesia, is an island country in Micronesia, a subregion of Oceania. The federation consists of four states—from west to east, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae—that are spread across the western Pacific. Together, the states comprise around 607 islands that cover a longitudinal distance of almost 2,700 km (1,700 mi) just north of the equator. They lie northeast of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, south of Guam and the Marianas, west of Nauru and the Marshall Islands, east of Palau and the Philippines, about 2,900 km (1,800 mi) north of eastern Australia, 3,400 km (2,100 mi) southeast of Japan, and some 4,000 km (2,485 mi) southwest of the main islands of the Hawaiian Islands.
The government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) conducts its own foreign relations. Since independence in 1986, the FSM has established diplomatic relations with 92 countries, including all of its Pacific neighbors.
Majuro is the capital and largest city of the Marshall Islands. It is also a large coral atoll of 64 islands in the Pacific Ocean. It forms a legislative district of the Ratak (Sunrise) Chain of the Marshall Islands. The atoll has a land area of 9.7 square kilometers (3.7 sq mi) and encloses a lagoon of 295 square kilometers (114 sq mi). As with other atolls in the Marshall Islands, Majuro consists of narrow land masses. It has a tropical trade wind climate, with an average temperature of 27 °C (81 °F).
Papua New Guinea's foreign policy reflects close ties with Australia and other traditional allies and cooperative relations with neighboring countries. Its views on international political and economic issues are generally moderate.
The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is an inter-governmental organization that aims to enhance cooperation among countries and territories of Oceania, including formation of a trade bloc and regional peacekeeping operations. It was founded in 1971 as the South Pacific Forum (SPF), and changed its name in 1999 to "Pacific Islands Forum", so as to be more inclusive of the Forum's Oceania-spanning membership of both north and south Pacific island countries, including Australia. It is a United Nations General Assembly observer.
The Compacts of Free Association (COFA) are international agreements establishing and governing the relationships of free association between the United States and the three Pacific Island sovereign states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau. As a result, these countries are sometimes known as the Freely Associated States (FASs). All three agreements next expire in 2043.
The Federated States of Micronesia's National Police is the small national police force of the Federated States of Micronesia and is a division of the FSM Department of Justice.
Federated States of Micronesia–United States relations are bilateral relations between the Federated States of Micronesia and the United States of America.
Israel – Micronesia relations are diplomatic and other relations between the State of Israel and the Federated States of Micronesia. Israel was among the first countries to establish formal diplomatic relations with Micronesia.
Diplomatic relations between China and the Federated States of Micronesia were established on September 11, 1989. The Chinese government first established an embassy in the capital of Palikir in 1990, and dispatched its first ambassador in 1991. Initially, the Micronesian ambassador to Tokyo, Japan also served as Micronesia's ambassador to China, before Micronesia established an embassy in Beijing in 2007. President John Haglelgam was the first senior government agent from Micronesia to visit China, doing so in 1990. The current Chinese ambassador to Micronesia is Zhang Weidong, while the Micronesian ambassador to Beijing is Akillino H. Susaia.
Gerald M. Zackios is a Marshallese politician and diplomat. He was a member of the Legislature of the Marshall Islands (Nitijeļā) from 2000 until 2012. During this period he was Minister in Assistance to the President of Marshall Islands from 2000 until 2001 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2001 until 2007. He serves as the Ambassador of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the United States since June 2016.
Susan Cox is an Australian diplomat and is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She has served in several ambassadorial positions, including as Australian Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia from 2007 to 2011 and Australian Ambassador to Croatia from 2012 to 2017.
The nationality law of the Federated States of Micronesia determines who is or may become a citizen or national of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Article III of the Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia provides the basis for nationality law, while specific provisions are elaborated in 7 FSMC § 201 et seq.
India–Federated States of Micronesia relations are the international relations that exist between the Republic of India and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The Embassy of India in Manila, Philippines is concurrently accredited to FSM.
The Guardian-class patrol boats are a class of small patrol vessels designed and built in Australia and provided to small South Pacific Ocean countries as part of the Australian Government's Pacific Maritime Security Program.
RMIS Lomor (03) is a Pacific Forum-class patrol boat operated by the Republic of Marshall Islands Sea Patrol. Lomor is one of twenty-two small patrol vessels Australia designed and built for smaller fellow members of the Pacific Forum, after the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea extended control of a 200-kilometre (108 nmi) exclusive economic zone for all maritime nations.
David W. Panuelo is a Micronesian politician who served as the president of the Federated States of Micronesia from 2019 to 2023.
RKS Teanoai (301) is a Pacific Forum-class patrol boat operated by the Republic of Kiribati Police. Teanoai is one of twenty-two small patrol vessels Australia designed and built for smaller fellow members of the Pacific Forum, after the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea extended control of a 200-kilometre (108 nmi) exclusive economic zone for all maritime nations.
Micronesia–European Union relations are the foreign relations between the country of the Federated States of Micronesia and the European Union. Cooperation between Micronesia and European Union was initiated in 2000 when the country joined the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States and is developed in the framework of Cotonou Agreement within the wider ACP–EU development cooperation. Two sides formalized their direct diplomatic relations on 18 April 2002 when the European Union ambassador Frans Baan attended diplomatic credential ceremony in Palikir. In 2008 the designated national authorizing officer for EU programs Fabian Nimea visited several EU member countries to promote further cooperation between his country and the European Union.
Australia – Marshall Islands are bilateral relations between Australia and the Marshall Islands. The Marshall Islands are located approximately halfway between Australia and Hawaii. The two countries are members of the Pacific Islands Forum.
Media related to Relations of Australia and the Federated States of Micronesia at Wikimedia Commons