Federated States of Micronesia

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The FSS David W. Panuelo in June 2022.

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a country in Oceania. It includes the majority of the Caroline Islands and it is named after the region of Micronesia.

It is made up of 4 states - Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. Chuuk is the most populated, with around 50,000 people. Chuuk has the largest city in FSM - Weno - which has a population around 14,000. The capital is Palikir on Pohnpei.

FSM's official language is English. The four states each have their own regional language as well.

Since 1986 it has been independent, but in free association with the United States.

The FSM flag includes 4 stars on a blue background. The blue represents the Pacific Ocean and the stars represent the 4 states.

The Federated States of Micronesia is a member of the Pacific Forum. When the United Nations passed the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in 1982, the small Island nations in the Forum faced the enormous burden of enforcing their sovereignty over their now enormous Exclusive Economic Zones. Australia, the largest country in the Forum, stepped forward and constructed small patrol vessels for its neighbours, the Pacific Forum patrol vessels. Micronesia's Police operated the FSS Palikir, FSS Micronesia and the FSS Independence When these vessels reached the end of their service lives Australia replaced them with Guardian-class patrol vessels, slightly larger and more capable vessels, the FSS Tosiwo Nakayama and the FSS David W. Panuelo.