Summary: Non-signatory the Federated States of Micronesia has not taken any steps to join the convention but voted in favor of a key United Nations (UN) resolution promoting the convention in December 2017. The Federated States of Micronesia is not known to have ever used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.

Policy

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has not yet acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

In February 2018, the FSM attended the Pacific Conference on Conventional Weapons Treaties, and adopted the conference’s “Auckland Declaration” acknowledging “the clear moral and humanitarian rationale for joining” the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The declaration states that during the meeting “some states not yet party to the Convention undertook to positively consider membership of it.”[1]

In the past, FSM government officials have expressed support for the convention’s objectives but indicated that no measures are underway to join it.[2] In 2011, the Department of Foreign Affairs informed the Monitor of FSM’s “intention to be a party” to the convention.[3]

FSM did not participate in the Oslo Process that created the convention and has never attended a meeting of the convention.

In December 2017, FSM voted in favor of a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution that calls on states outside the Convention on Cluster Munitions to “join as soon as possible.”[4] It voted in favor of previous UNGA resolutions promoting implementation and universalization of the convention in 2015 and 2016.[5]

FSM has voted in favor of UNGA resolutions expressing outrage at the use of cluster munitions in Syria, most recently in December 2017.[6]

Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling

FSM is not known to have ever used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.

Policy

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has not yet acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. The FSM has stated that it has never produced or stockpiled antipersonnel mines.[1]

The FSM attended the Mine Ban Treaty’s Eleventh Meeting of States Parties in November–December 2011 in Phnom Penh as an observer, but did not make any statements. It has not attended any Mine Ban Treaty meetings since.

In November 2011, a draft resolution recommending accession to the Mine Ban Treaty was presented to the 17^th Congress of the FSM, but failed to pass.[2] A previous draft resolution approving accession was submitted and failed in 2009.[3]

Representatives of the mission of the Marshall Islands based in Fiji met with Special Envoy on Universalization Prince Mired in August 2011, during which they were invited “to participate in the work of this Convention even while their accession deliberations continue.”[4]

In October 2009, an FSM representative said the Mine Ban Treaty is not a legislative priority as the country is not impacted by, nor has it ever used, mines.[5]

A United States (US) Department of State cable made public by Wikileaks in August 2011 provides US views on FSM’s accession to the Mine Ban Treaty.[6] According to the September 2009 cable from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, US officials met representatives from the Marshall Islands, the FSM, and Palau on 2 December 1997, one day before the Mine Ban Treaty Signing Conference was held, “at the latter three’s request to discuss their potential signature/ratification of the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines.” During the meeting, the US said that “adherence to the Convention is up to each state based on its assessment of its own national interest,” but emphasized that “the U.S. would not adhere to the Ottawa Convention and that adherence by the other three states could conflict with defense provisions of the respective bilateral Compacts of Free Association.” In an interview with the Monitor in October 2010, a government representative stated that one of the primary reasons why the FSM has not joined the Mine Ban Treaty is that defense arrangements with the US require the FSM to consult with the US on all military matters.[7]

Two days after the 1997 meeting, on 4 December 1997, the Marshall Islands signed the Mine Ban Treaty, while Palau acceded a decade later on 18 November 2007. The cable notes that the US “raised these same concerns” with Palau “in advance” of its accession to the Mine Ban Treaty and said Palau “determined that the Ottawa Convention did not conflict with the Compact of Free Association.”

FSM voted in favor of UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 71/34 on universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty in December 2016, for the eleventh consecutive year.

The FSM is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.