| Membership | Full member |
|---|---|
| Since | 1991 |
| UNSC seat | Non-permanent (never elected) |
| Ambassador | Masao Nakayama |
The Federated States of Micronesia joined the United Nations on September 17, 1991, five years after obtaining its independence from the United States of America.[1][2] As of January 2010[update] its ambassador to the United Nations is Masao Nakayama.[3] Although de jure sovereign, the F.S. Micronesia is bound by a Compact of Free Association with the United States, which provides it with "substantial financial support".[4]
Micronesia's voting pattern is uncommon, in that it systematically refrains from voting in favour of resolutions opposed by the United States, or against resolutions supported by the United States. Thus, the Heritage Foundation noted that, in 1997, Micronesia was the only country to have never voted against a resolution supported by the United States.[5] That same year, the Jewish Virtual Library, citing U.S. Department of State figures, noted that Micronesia was the only country in the world to have matched the United States' voting pattern 100% of the time.[6] That record was still 100% in 2000, but had dropped to 82% in 2003, and 65% in 2007, making Micronesia the 5th most supportive country towards the U.S. (behind Israel, Palau, the Marshall Islands and Kiribati). In 2008, Micronesia's votes on thirteen key issues identified as important to the United States by the State Department (including "resolutions relating to Cuba, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, North Korea, Iran, Belarus, Burma and the Human Rights Council") matched the United States' position 90.9% of the time; only Israel and the Marshall Islands' rates were higher (100%).[7] Micronesia has also systematically supported Israel through its votes in the United Nations.[8]
Micronesia's priority within the United Nations is to highlight issues relating to climate change, and its impact on small island states.[9]
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