NSDD 246 The Political Status of Micronesia

SYSTEM II 90692 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON October 8, 1986 SECRET NATIONAL SECURITY DECISION DIRECTIVE NUMBER 246 THE POLITICAL STATUS OF MICRONESIA (U) The United States has administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI), generally referred to as Micronesia, since 1947 under a strategic Trusteeship Agreement with the United Nations Security Council. The United States has broad and continuing interests in Micronesia which derive primarily from our strategic defense requirements and treaty commitments; from international considerations, including our philosophical commitment to the right of self-determination and our equivalent Trusteeship Agreement obligations; and from Congressionally enacted statements of our interests and requirements. (U) After the 1982 completion of future political status negotiations, the United States reached agreement with the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau on new post-Trusteeship political relationships set forth in Compacts of Free Association. Each of these freely associated states would be self-governing, the U.S. would recognize their sovereignty, U.S. economic assistance over a fifteen year period would be provided, and the U.S. would retain plenary defense and security rights, including the right to foreclose the area to others to establish military use areas. (U) The Compact was approved by each of the future freely associated states in United Nations observed plebiscites subsequently adjudged to be valid acts of self-determination by the UN. Congress enacted the Compact for the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia (PL 99-239, January 14, 1986) and is completing action on the Palau Compact. The fourth political jurisdiction of the TTPI, the Northern Mariana Islands, will become a United States territory upon termination of the Trusteeship Agreement pursuant to PL 94-241. The Northern Mariana Islands engaged in its act of self-determination on July 17, 1975. (U) ~ 9/6/95- under provisions at E.O. 12356 by D. Van Tassel, National Security (F87.249) SECRET Declassify on: OADR 96