Associated state

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Basic Forms of government An associated state is the minor partner or dependent territory in a formal, free relationship between a political territory (some of them dependent states, most of them fully sovereign) and a major party—usually a larger state.

The details of such free association are contained in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1541 (XV) Principle VI,<ref name="resolution 1541 (XV)">See: the General Assembly of the United Nations approved resolution 1541 (XV) Template:Webarchive (pages: 509–510) defining free association with an independent State, integration into an independent State, or independence</ref> a Compact of Free Association or Associated Statehood Act and are specific to the countries involved. In the case of the Cook Islands and Niue, the details of their free association arrangement are contained in several documents, such as their respective constitutions, the 1983 Exchange of Letters between the governments of New Zealand and the Cook Islands, and the 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration. Free associated states can be described as independent or not, but free association is not a qualification of an entity's statehood or status as a subject of international law.

Informally it can be considered more widely: from a post-colonial form of amical protection, or protectorate, to a confederation of unequal members when the lesser partners delegate to the major one (often the former colonial power) some authority normally exclusively retained by a sovereign state, usually in such fields as defence and foreign relations, while often enjoying favourable economic terms such as market access.

Origin of the concept

The concept of associated state was originally used to refer to arrangements under which Western powers afforded a (sometimes very limited) degree of self-government to some of their colonial possessions after the end of World War II. Soon after the conclusion of the war, the French colonial territories of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos were designated as 'associated states' within the newly created French Union. The arrangement afforded these countries a limited degree of internal and external sovereignty (for example, they were allowed to enter into diplomatic relations with a small number of countries), but for the most part reserved for France effective control over foreign relations, as well as military, judicial, administrative, and economic activities.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to some French jurists, the concept of associated state under the 1946 French constitution automatically extended to the territories of Morocco and Tunisia, which up until then had been protectorates of France. However, unlike their counterparts in Southeast Asia, neither Morocco nor Tunisia became part of the French Union.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The associated state concept as applied to former French colonial possessions has been described as 'neo-colonial' as it did not afford them real internal or external sovereignty.<ref name="auto" /> All of the aforementioned associated states eventually became fully independent states.

Puerto Rico has been a dependent territory of the United States since the Spanish–American War. In the Spanish-language version of its current (1952) constitution it is officially named Template:Lang, which translates to "Free Associated State of Puerto Rico." It exercises substantial internal self-government similar to U.S. states, and is under the sovereignty of the U.S. Constitution. Unlike the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau, Puerto Rico is not considered to be an associated state under U.S. domestic law, with the English-language Puerto Rican constitution referring to it as a 'commonwealth.' The official Spanish name of Puerto Rico can lead observers to believe that its political status is equivalent to that of the associated states of the Cook Islands, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Niue, and Palau. However, unlike these polities, Puerto Rico is not considered a state under international law and scholars usually do not regard it as an associated state similar to the others.

When New Zealand offered an associated status to the Cook Islands, they involved the United Nations and included in the agreement the possibility of future independence. These considerations became relevant in later Special Committee on Decolonisation debates on the West Indies Associated States.<ref name="Lal2006">Template:Cite book</ref>

States currently in a formal association

The Cook Islands and Niue have the status of "self-government in free association".<ref name="mfai">Cook Islands: Constitutional Status and International Personality, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, May 2005 Template:Webarchive</ref> New Zealand cannot legislate for them,<ref name="indep">Cook Islands Constitution Template:Webarchive "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">Niue Abstracts Part 1 A (General Information); page 18 Template:Webarchive "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 states.<ref>See Court various statements, page 262–264</ref> In foreign relations, both interact as sovereign states,<ref name="nonUN"/><ref name="JCD">Template:Cite web</ref> and they have been allowed to sign on as a state to United Nations treaties and bodies.<ref name="nonUN">Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs Supplement No. 8; page 10 Template:Webarchive Cook Islands since 1992, and Niue since 1994.</ref><ref>UN Office of Legal Affairs Template:Webarchive 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 citizenship.<ref name="mfai"/>Template:Refn In 2025, Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown stated that the UN confirmed that the Cook Islands did not meet the requirements for UN membership, and foreign minister Tingika Elikana stated that any future decision to join the UN would require a referendum and reevaluation of the relationship with New Zealand.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Additionally, a spokesperson for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade stated that "the Cook Islands is not a fully independent and sovereign state".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Both Niue and the Cook Islands have established their own immigration regimes.<ref>Pacific Constitutions Overview, p.7 Template:Webarchive – 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.Template:Cn

Associated state Template:NoteTag	Associated with	Associated since	Level of association	International status
Cook Islands	New Zealand	4 August 1965	New Zealand acts on behalf of the Cook Islands and Niue in foreign affairs and defence issues, but only when requested so by their respective local governments and with their advice and consent.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Not a UN member state. Independence in foreign relations recognised by the UN
Niue		19 October 1974
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>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	UN member state
Federated States of Micronesia		3 November 1986
Palau		1 October 1994

Former associated states

A formal association existed under the West Indies Act 1967 between the United Kingdom and the six West Indies Associated States. These were former British colonies in the Caribbean: Antigua (1967–1981), Dominica (1967–1978), Grenada (1967–1974), Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla (1967–1983), Saint Lucia (1967–1979), and Saint Vincent (1969–1979). Under this arrangement, each state had internal self-government, but the UK retained responsibility for foreign relations and defence.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The United Nations never determined whether these associated states had achieved a full measure of self-government within the meaning of the United Nations Charter and General Assembly resolutions. Within a few years after the status of associated state was created, all six of the former associated states requested and were granted full independence, except for Anguilla within the former St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla union, which separated from the associated state before independence and became a British dependent territory on its own.Template:Cn

Shortly before the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Tatar ASSR unilaterally seceded from the Russian SFSR, as the "sovereign state" of Tatarstan and a "subject of international law". In 1994 Tatarstan and the Russian Federation entered into a treaty specifying that Tatarstan was "associated" with the latter (rather than being an integral part of it). Through the agreement, Tatarstan delegated certain powers (such as some foreign relations and defence) to Russia. Changes made to Tatarstan's constitution in 2002 have been seen by some commentators as fundamentally changing this relationship, with Tatarstan now functioning as essentially an integral part of Russia.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Proposed associated states

Puerto Rico

While Puerto Rico is described as a 'free associated state' under its Spanish-language constitution, its status is not equivalent to that of a separate state under international law, since it legally remains a U.S. territory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Some scholars and politicians have proposed Puerto Rico sign a Compact of Free Association with the U.S. The soberanista movement advocates for the territory to be granted a freely associated status. The 2017 status referendum presented "Independence/Free Association" as an option; if the majority of voters had chosen it, a second round of voting would have been held to choose between free association and full independence. In 2022, the US Congress introduced the Puerto Rico Status Act, which would hold a federally-sponsored referendum on the territory's status, with a free association status expected to be presented as an option<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> similar to those in force in the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Guam

The government of the U.S. unincorporated territory of Guam, led by then-Governor Eddie Calvo, started campaigning in early 2011 for a plebiscite on Guam's future political status, with free association following the model of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau as one of the possible options.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The plebiscite, however, only allowed "native inhabitants" as defined under Guam law to register for it. A white, non-Chamorro resident, Arnold Davis, filed a federal lawsuit in 2011 for being denied registration for the plebiscite and a July 2019 ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ultimately blocked the plebiscite on the basis that the law was race-based and violated constitutionally protected voting rights; the Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear the Government of Guam's appeal in May 2020.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Faroe Islands

A similar path has been proposed in order to update the political relationship between the Faroe Islands and Denmark, in which the former would become an associated state of the latter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2000, the Løgting set up the Faroese Treaty Commission which drafted a constitution for a state in free association with Denmark. The Self-Government Party supports gradually increased autonomy until it reaches de facto independence.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Tokelau

Tokelau (a dependent territory of New Zealand) voted on a referendum in February 2006 to determine whether it wanted to remain a New Zealand territory or become the third state in free association with New Zealand (after the Cook Islands and Niue). While a majority of voters chose free association, the vote did not meet the two-thirds threshold needed for approval. A similar referendum in October 2007 under United Nations supervision yielded similar results, with the proposed free association falling 16 votes short of approval.<ref name="NZ_Herald_10472094">Template:Cite web</ref>

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

In 1984, a referendum was held on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands; only 21 of the 261 voted for free association with Australia while the vast majority preferred integration.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

New Caledonia

To resolve the crisis in New Caledonia, French president Emmanuel Macron reportedly proposed an "associated state" status with a "strong link with France".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The final agreement intended the formation of a "State of New Caledonia" which other states could recognise but its status would be enshrined in the French constitution and remain "French".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 2025 Accord de Bougival, that will have to be accepted in the 2026 referendum, will transform New Caledonia into a "State of New Caledonia", and transfer some of the French state's powers to this new State.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Basque Country

In 2003, then-Basque Country president Juan José Ibarretxe proposed to the Spanish Congress of Deputies a reform that would have transformed the region from an autonomous community within Spain into a state in free association, thus making Spain a confederal state. The proposal was overwhelmingly rejected by the Congress.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Bangsamoro

The establishment of a Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) was proposed in 2008 by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Philippines. The two parties were to sign a memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain which would lead to the establishment of a new autonomous government in the southern Philippines. However the deal was halted by the Supreme Court of the Philippines, which ruled that the BJE's proposed "associative relationship" with the Philippine national government was incompatible with the Constitution of the Philippines.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Tobago

Some form of free association has been suggested as a solution to occasional calls of self-determination by the people of Tobago, the smaller island within the country of Trinidad and Tobago, either within the single state (analogous to the situation of Scotland within the United Kingdom) or as a separate political entity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Abkhazia and Transnistria

According to statements of officials of Abkhazia and Transnistria (self-proclaimed partially recognized republics seceded from the former USSR's constituent republics of Georgia and Moldova respectively), both intend, after recognition of their independence, to become associated states of the Russian Federation. In Transnistria a referendum took place in September 2006, in which secession from Moldova and "future free association" with Russia was approved by a margin of 97%, even though the results of the referendum were internationally unrecognised.Template:Cn

Other comparable relationships

Other situations exist where one state has power over another political unit. Dependent territories and the United Kingdom's Crown dependencies are examples of this, where an area has its own political system and often internal self-government, but does not have overall sovereignty. In a loose form of association, some sovereign states cede some power to other states, often in terms of foreign affairs and defence.Template:Cn

States currently ceding power to another state

Associated state	Associated with	Associated since	Level of association	International status
Andorra	Spain and France	1278	Defence is the responsibility of Spain and France.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Andorra is a co-principality between the head of state of France (currently the president) and the Bishop of Urgell.	UN member state
Kiribati	Australia and New Zealand	1979	Kiribati has no military. National defence is provided by Australia and New Zealand.<ref>Template:Cite CIA World Factbook</ref>
Liechtenstein	Switzerland	1923	Although the head of state represents Liechtenstein in its international relations, Switzerland has taken responsibility for much of Liechtenstein's diplomatic relations. Liechtenstein maintains no military.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Monaco	France	1861	France has agreed to defend the independence and sovereignty of Monaco, while the Monegasque government has agreed to exercise its sovereign rights in conformity with French interests, which was reaffirmed by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Nauru	Australia	1968	Nauru has no military. Australia informally takes responsibility for its defence.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Samoa	New Zealand	1914	Samoa has no regular military. New Zealand provides defence under an informal agreement, but Samoa is regarded as fully independent.<ref>Template:Cite CIA World Factbook</ref>
San Marino	Italy	1939	Defence is the responsibility of Italy by arrangement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Tuvalu	Australia	1978	Tuvalu has no military. Australia informally takes responsibility for its defence.<ref>https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/australia-tuvalu-falepili-union-treaty.pdf Template:Bare URL PDF</ref>
Vatican City	Switzerland	1506	Vatican City uses the Pontifical Swiss Guard, founded by Pope Julius II and provided by Switzerland, as the Pope's bodyguards.<ref name=Vatican>Template:Cite web</ref>	UN General Assembly observer state
	Italy	1929	According to the Lateran Treaty, anyone who loses Vatican City citizenship and possesses no other citizenship automatically becomes an Italian citizen. The military defence of the Vatican City is provided by Italy.<ref name=Vatican/>

States formerly ceding power to another state

Iceland, formerly part of Denmark, became a nominally sovereign state in 1918. It remained in a personal union with the Danish Crown and continued to have a common foreign policy with Denmark until 1944, when it became a republic.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Bhutan, a former protectorate of British India, agreed in a 1949 treaty to allow the newly independent India to guide its foreign relations in a relatively loose form of association, which resulted in Bhutan sometimes being described as a "protected state".<ref>Template:Cite web Template:Small)</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This relationship was updated in a 2007 treaty, in which the provision requiring Bhutan to accept India's guidance on foreign policy was rescinded.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Microstates as modern protected states

The existence of free relationship based on both delegation of sovereignty and benign protection can be seen as a defining feature of microstates. According to the definition of microstates proposed by Dumienski (2014): "Microstates are modern protected states, i.e. sovereign states that have been able to unilaterally depute certain attributes of sovereignty to larger powers in exchange for benign protection of their political and economic viability against their geographic or demographic constraints."<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> Adopting this approach permits separating microstates from both small states and autonomies or dependencies. Microstates understood as modern protected states may include such states as Liechtenstein, San Marino, Monaco, Vatican City, Andorra, Niue, the Cook Islands, and Palau.Template:Cn

See also

• Commonwealth realm
• Crown dependency
• Dominion
• Dutch Caribbean
• External association, 1921 proposed relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom
• List of sovereign states without armed forces
• Home rule
• Self-governing colony