US ink new pact with Palau over maritime security

Subject: International relations

Section: Places in news

Context: The United States has signed a new agreement with Palau,

More about the news:

The United States has signed a new agreement with Palau, which gives American ships the authorisation to unilaterally enforce maritime regulations in the tiny Pacific Island nation’s exclusive economic zone.
In the agreement, the US Coast Guard ships can enforce regulations inside Palau’s exclusive economic zone on behalf of the nation without a Palauan officer present.
This agreement helps Palau monitor its exclusive economic zone, protect against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and deter uninvited vessels from conducting questionable maneuvers within its water.
The partnership will help toward achieving the common goal of peace and prosperity in the region.
The agreement comes as both the U.S. and China are seeking to expand their influence in the Pacific, and follows pleas from Palau’s president for Washington’s help to deter Beijing’s “unwanted activities” in its coastal waters.

Some facts about Palau:

Palau is an island country in the Micronesia sub-region of Oceania in the western Pacific.
The republic consists of approximately 340 islands and has a total area of 466 sq kms, making it one of the smallest countries in the world.
The Capital of Palau is Ngerulmud.
Having voted in a referendum against joining the Federated States of Micronesia in 1978, the islands gained full sovereignty in 1994 under a Compact of Free Association with the United States.
Politically, Palau is a presidential republic in free association with the United States, which provides defense, funding, and access to social services.