Editing Associated state (section)

==States currently in a formal association==
The Cook Islands and Niue have the status of "self-government in free association".<ref name="mfai">[http://www.mfai.gov.ck/attachments/068_WELLINGTON-1129712-v1-CookIslands%20%20Constitutional%20Status%20and%20International%20Personality%20%20informationpaper.pdf Cook Islands: Constitutional Status and International Personality, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, May 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000423/http://www.mfai.gov.ck/attachments/068_WELLINGTON-1129712-v1-CookIslands%20%20Constitutional%20Status%20and%20International%20Personality%20%20informationpaper.pdf |date=4 March 2016 }}</ref> New Zealand cannot legislate for them,<ref name="indep">[http://www.parliament.gov.ck/Constitution.pdf Cook Islands Constitution] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924064410/http://www.parliament.gov.ck/Constitution.pdf |date=24 September 2015 }} "Except as provided by Act of the Parliament of the Cook Islands, no Act, and no provision of any Act, of the Parliament of New Zealand passed after the commencement of this Article shall extend or be deemed to extend to the Cook Islands as part of the law of the Cook Islands."</ref><ref name="abstract">[http://www.niue.de/index.php?did=niueabstracts.pdf Niue Abstracts Part 1 A (General Information); page 18] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121015618/http://www.niue.de/index.php?did=niueabstracts.pdf |date=21 January 2016 }} "The New Zealand Parliament has no power to make laws in respect of Niue on any matter, except with the express request and consent of the Niue Government."</ref> and in some situations they are considered [[sovereign state]]s.<ref>See [https://books.google.com/books?id=1peIxEyy1o0C&dq=cook+islands+under+international+law&pg=PA259 Court various statements, page 262–264]</ref> In foreign relations, both interact as sovereign states,<ref name="nonUN"/><ref name="JCD">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cook-islands.org/files/nz-cki.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527152705/http://www.cook-islands.org/files/nz-cki.pdf|url-status=dead|title=JOINT CENTENARY DECLARATION of the Principles of the Relationship between the Cook Islands and New Zealand, 6 April 2001|archive-date=27 May 2013}}</ref> and they have been allowed to sign on as a state to United Nations treaties and bodies.<ref name="nonUN">[http://legal.un.org/repertory/art102/english/rep_supp8_vol6-art102_e_advance.pdf Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs Supplement No. 8; page 10] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019223055/http://legal.un.org/repertory/art102/english/rep_supp8_vol6-art102_e_advance.pdf |date=19 October 2013 }} Cook Islands since 1992, and Niue since 1994.</ref><ref>[http://untreaty.un.org/ola-internet/Assistance/Summary.htm UN Office of Legal Affairs] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728142815/http://untreaty.un.org/ola-internet/Assistance/Summary.htm |date=28 July 2011 }} Page 23, number 86 "...the question of the status, as a State, of the Cook Islands, had been duly decided in the affirmative..."</ref> Neither has decided to join the UN, as New Zealand has expressed a view that such a move would lead to their loss of right to automatic acquisition of [[New Zealand nationality law|New Zealand citizenship]].<ref name="mfai"/>{{refn|1=[http://www.cookislands.de/index.php?did=cookisstatus.pdf The Cook Islands' unique constitutional and international status, page 9] Cook Islands and Niue do not have citizenship on their own and the [[Cook Islanders]] and [[Niue]]ans have [[New Zealand nationality law|New Zealand citizenship]].}} However, New Zealand has never formally opposed such application, nor has it argued that either country would not be within its sovereign right to do so. Both Niue and the Cook Islands have established their own nationality and immigration regimes.<ref>[http://www.upf.pf/IMG/pdf/12-RJP15-Pacific-Constitutions.pdf Pacific Constitutions Overview, p.7] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305064608/http://www.upf.pf/IMG/pdf/12-RJP15-Pacific-Constitutions.pdf |date=5 March 2012 }} – Niue Entry, Residence and Departure Act 1985.</ref>

The Federated States of Micronesia (since 1986), the Marshall Islands (since 1986), and Palau (since 1994) are associated with the United States under what is known as the [[Compact of Free Association]], giving the states international sovereignty and ultimate control over their territory. However, the governments of those areas have agreed to allow the United States to provide defense; the U.S. federal government provides funding grants and access to U.S. social services for citizens of these areas. The United States benefits from its ability to use the islands as strategic military bases.{{Cn|date=May 2024}}

{| class="wikitable"
!width="160px"| Associated state {{NoteTag|Arranged by date of free association.}}
!class="unsortable" width="120px"|Associated with
!class="unsortable" width="120px"|Associated since
!class="unsortable"|Level of association
!class="unsortable"|International status
|-
| [[Cook Islands]]
| [[New Zealand]]
| 4 August 1965
| New Zealand acts on behalf of the Cook Islands in foreign affairs and defence issues, but only when requested so by the Cook Islands government and with its [[advice and consent]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Cook Islands at the CIA's page|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/cook-islands/|publisher=CIA|access-date=2010-07-15|author=CIA|date=15 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cook Islands Constitution Act 1964|url=http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1964/0069/latest/whole.html|publisher=New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office|access-date=2015-08-21|author=Government of New Zealand}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cook Islands Constitution Commencement Order 1965|url=http://legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1965/0128/latest/whole.html|publisher=New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office|access-date=2015-08-21|author=Government of New Zealand}}</ref>
| Not a [[Member states of the United Nations|UN member state]]. Independence in foreign relations recognised by the UN
|-
| [[Niue]]
| [[New Zealand]]
| 19 October 1974
| New Zealand acts on behalf of Niue in foreign affairs and defence issues, but only when requested so by the Niue government and with its advice and consent.<ref>{{cite web|title=Niue at the CIA's page|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/niue/|publisher=CIA|access-date=2010-07-15|author=CIA|date=15 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Niue Constitution Act 1974|url=http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1974/0042/latest/whole.html|publisher=New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office|access-date=2015-08-21|author=Government of New Zealand}}</ref>
| Not a UN member state. Independence in foreign relations recognised by the UN
|-
| [[Marshall Islands]]
| [[United States]]
| 21 October 1986
| The United States provides defence, funding grants, and access to U.S. social services for citizens of these areas under the [[Compact of Free Association]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Marshall Islands at the CIA's page|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/marshall-islands/|publisher=CIA|access-date=2010-07-15|author=CIA|date=15 July 2010}}</ref>
| UN member state
|-
| [[Federated States of Micronesia]]
| [[United States]]
| 3 November 1986
| The United States provides defence, funding grants, and access to U.S. social services for citizens of these areas under the Compact of Free Association.<ref>{{cite web|title=FSM at the CIA's page|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/micronesia-federated-states-of/|publisher=CIA|access-date=2010-07-15|author=CIA|date=15 July 2010}}</ref>
| UN member state
|-
| [[Palau]]
| [[United States]]
| 1 October 1994
| The United States provides defence, funding grants, and access to U.S. social services for citizens of these areas under the Compact of Free Association.<ref>{{cite web|title=Palau at the CIA's page|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/palau/|publisher=CIA|access-date=2010-07-15|author=CIA|date=15 July 2010}}</ref>
| UN member state
|}