Marshall Islands
Republic of the Marshall Islands
Population
42K
GDP
$280M
Capital
Majuro
Government
Unitary parliamentary republic
At a Glance
Human Development
0.6
HDI (0-1)
Democracy
5.7
EIU (0-10)
Press Freedom
—
RSF score
Corruption
—
TI CPI (0-100)
Innovation
—
GII score
Happiness
—
WHR (0-10)
The Marshall Islands carries a unique and painful legacy as the site of 67 US nuclear tests between 1946 and 1958, including the massive Castle Bravo hydrogen bomb at Bikini Atoll. This nuclear testing history shapes its identity, diplomacy, and ongoing health and environmental challenges.
The country has a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the United States, providing defense guarantees and financial assistance in exchange for strategic military access, including the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll. The Marshall Islands is also the world's second-largest ship registry.
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As the Marshall Islands, your nuclear testing history is your most powerful diplomatic tool. Draw direct lines between nuclear injustice, environmental devastation, and climate change -- you have been victimized by both.
Maintain your Taiwan recognition as leverage in US relations. Coordinate closely with AOSIS and Pacific Islands Forum on climate. Push for nuclear testing compensation, cleanup, and healthcare. Your ship registry gives you unique voice in maritime governance. Demand 1.5-degree targets as a matter of national survival.
Foreign Policy
The Marshall Islands' foreign policy is anchored in the US Compact of Free Association (renewed 2023), which provides the security umbrella and significant economic support. It is one of a handful of countries that recognize Taiwan, reflecting its alignment with US interests.
The Marshall Islands is a powerful voice on nuclear justice and climate change, filing a landmark ICJ case against nuclear weapons states (2014) and leading AOSIS climate advocacy.