COFA - Compacts of Free Association
https://www.rozen-bakher.com/alliances/cofa
Published Date: 25 June 2025
Monitoring Alliances by Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher
Monitoring Military, Political, Economic and Trade Alliances that Have an Impact on Global Order and Geopolitics
Monitoring Alliances by Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher https://www.rozen-bakher.com/monitoring-alliances
Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher
A Researcher in International Relations with a Focus on Security, Political and Economic Risks for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and International Trade
For the Differences Between Military Defence Treaty versus Military Support Treaty versus Military Cooperation:
The Difference Between Military Defence Treaty versus Military Support Treaty versus Military Cooperation https://www.rozen-bakher.com/alliances/military
The Importance of Political, Economic, and Trade Alliances:
Rozen-Bakher, Z. (2021). Restrictions on International Trade and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Nationalism-Mercantilism versus Trade Liberalism. Research Paper, PD9. https://www.rozen-bakher.com/research-papers/pd9
Rozen-Bakher, Z. (2021). The Chess Game of Forming International Trade Agreements: Shaping Global Economic and Political Power. Research Paper, PD10. https://www.rozen-bakher.com/research-papers/pd10
Rozen-Bakher, Z. (2021). Is the World Trade Organization (WTO) has a Future under the Mechanism of Consensus in Decision-Making?: A New Framework for Achieving Successful Rounds. Research Paper, PD11. https://www.rozen-bakher.com/research-papers/pd11
COFA - Compacts of Free Association
Compacts of Free Association (COFA) are more than regular defence treaties because based on COFA, each host country (Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau) actually gives up on its military sovereignty to the USA in a way that the USA has full authority and responsibility for the defence of the host country without any right of the host country to object or interfere with the military operations of the USA in the territory of the host country, including avoiding any military affairs with other countries without USA permission, which includes even the USA's ability to block docking or visiting the ports of the host country by other navies. (For full details, see the information below, including the treaties). Keep in mind that Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau are UN members that should have full sovereignty rights, while COFA with USA ’colonies such as Guam is a different story because the USA has sovereignty over its colonies.
Palau - COFA https://web.archive.org/web/20111006012927/http://palau.usembassy.gov/rop_cofa.pdf
Marshall Islands - COFA https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/173999.pdf
Micronesia - COFA https://gov.fm/cofa/
Generational Opportunity to Counter China: Prioritizing the Pacific Islands Through the Compacts of Free Association (COFA) https://www.heritage.org/china/report/generational-opportunity-counter-china-prioritizing-the-pacific-islands-through-the
Stay Tuned for the COFA sorted by 2025 Global Survival Rank by Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher
From Newspapers
Compacts of Free Association agreement between the Marshall Islands and the United States renewed
US Compacts of Free Association Are Key to Deterring a Taiwan Contingency - The Diplomat
Palau's President Relieved by Security Pact Funding Approval
U.S. may propose Compact of Free Association deal to Greenland
Supporting our Allies in the Indo-Pacific Through COFA Implementation
From Scientific Literature - Research Papers and Research Books
A Generational Opportunity to Counter China: Prioritizing the Pacific Islands Through the Compacts of Free Association (COFA) Harding, A. J. (2023). A Generational Opportunity to Counter China: Prioritizing the Pacific Islands Through the Compacts of Free Association (COFA). Heritage Foundation.
Navigating the Compact of Free Association: three decades of supervised self-governance Morris, K. (2018). Navigating the Compact of Free Association: three decades of supervised self-governance. U. Haw. L. Rev., 41, 384.
Compact of Free Association (COFA) Status: An Imperial Policy on the Move Mitchell-Eaton, E. (2023). Compact of Free Association (COFA) Status: An Imperial Policy on the Move. Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal, 24, 3.
The Compact of Free Association: An Impact Analysis for Hawaii O'Neil, M. (2007). The Compact of Free Association: An Impact Analysis for Hawaii. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless, 16(2), 104-133.
What the Compact Impact Fairness Act Means for Compact Host Governments and Migrants Paule, A., & Weiker, A. (2023). What the Compact Impact Fairness Act Means for Compact Host Governments and Migrants. East-West Center.
DECOLONIZE AND DE-NUCLEARIZE THE MARSHALL ISLANDS Adams, L. (2023). DECOLONIZE AND DE-NUCLEARIZE THE MARSHALL ISLANDS. Turning the Tide, 35(2), 8-8.
Micronesian Unity at the Crossroads: Past Events and Future Perspectives Inomata, M., & Abe, M. (2024). Micronesian Unity at the Crossroads: Past Events and Future Perspectives. In Sustainable Development Across Pacific Islands: Lessons, Challenges, and Ways Forward (pp. 257-280). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.
The Republic of Palau and the United States: Self-determination becomes the price of free association Hinck, J. (1990). The Republic of Palau and the United States: Self-determination becomes the price of free association. Calif. L. Rev., 78, 915.
