More information about Palau is available on the Palau country page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.
U.S.-PALAU RELATIONS
Following World War II, in 1947, under UN auspices as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the United States assumed administration of Palau. In 1982, Palau signed a Compact of Free Association with the United States. Palau gained its independence and established diplomatic relations with the United States in 1994, with the entry into force of the Compact, under which the U.S. remains responsible for Palau’s defense until 2044. Palau is a sovereign nation and conducts its own foreign relations. The United States and Palau cooperate on a broad range of issues, including strengthening regional security, promoting sustainable development and addressing climate change, and protecting fisheries and the environment. Approximately 500 Palauans serve as volunteers in the U.S. armed forces, and Palau also has one of the highest levels of voting coincidence with the United States at the United Nations.
U.S. Assistance to Palau
The United States and Palau signed the Compact Review Agreement in 2010, with a wide range of federal programs to continue until 2024. The United States also worked with Palau to establish the Compact Trust Fund to assist Palau in achieving healthy economic growth. As of July 2018, the value of the Compact Trust Fund was approximately $226,362,000.
Bilateral Economic Relations
The Compact Review has identified U.S.-Palauan cooperative efforts to promote trade and investment in Palau, which will complement current initiatives to expand and develop a healthy economic partnership.
Palau’s Membership in International Organizations
Palau and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank.
Bilateral Representation
Principal embassy officials are listed in the Department’s Key Officers List.
Palau maintains an embassy in the United States at 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006 (tel: 202-349-8598). The Palau Ambassador to the United States and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps is Hersey Kyota.
More information about Palau is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:
CIA World Factbook Palau Page
U.S. Embassy
History of U.S. Relations With Palau
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Travel Information
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
