- g over ning ▁state ▁in ▁free ▁association ▁with ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁of ▁America , ▁which ▁is ▁wh olly ▁responsible ▁for ▁its ▁defense . ▁The ▁Division ▁of ▁Mar itime ▁Sur ve ill ance ▁oper ates ▁a ▁par amil it ary ▁Mar itime ▁Wing ▁and ▁a ▁small ▁Mar itime ▁Police ▁Unit . ▁The ▁Comp act ▁of ▁Free ▁Association ▁allows ▁F SM ▁citizens ▁to ▁join ▁the ▁U . S . ▁military ▁without ▁having ▁to ▁obtain ▁U . S . ▁permanent ▁res iden cy ▁or ▁citizens hip , ▁allows ▁for ▁imm igration ▁and ▁employ ment ▁for ▁Mic ron es ians ▁in ▁the ▁U . S ., ▁and ▁establish es ▁economic ▁and ▁technical ▁aid ▁programs . ▁ ▁F SM ▁has ▁foreign ▁relations ▁with ▁ 5 6 ▁countries , ▁including ▁the ▁Holy ▁See . ▁F SM ▁was ▁admitted ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁Nations ▁based ▁on ▁the ▁Security ▁Council ' s ▁recommendation ▁on ▁August ▁ 9 , ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁in ▁Resol ution ▁ 7 0 3 ▁and ▁the ▁General ▁Assembly ' s ▁appro val ▁on ▁September ▁ 1 7 , ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁in ▁Resol ution ▁ 4 6 / 2 . ▁The ▁F SM ▁is ▁an ▁active ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Pacific ▁Islands ▁Forum . ▁ ▁Administr ative ▁divisions ▁ ▁The ▁four ▁states ▁in ▁the ▁feder ation ▁are , ▁from ▁west ▁to ▁east : ▁ ▁These ▁states ▁are ▁further ▁divided ▁into ▁municipal ities . ▁ ▁Dis put ed ▁so vere ig nt y ▁Spain ▁has ▁a ▁claim ▁to ▁so vere ig nt y ▁over ▁a