Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The United States is a sovereign nation—it does not own other countries. However, it has several territories and freely associated states with unique political relationships.
| Territory | Status | Population | Citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | Unincorporated organized territory | 3.2M | U.S. citizens by birth |
| Guam | Unincorporated organized territory | 170K | U.S. citizens by birth |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Unincorporated organized territory | 87K | U.S. citizens by birth |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Commonwealth in political union | 47K | U.S. citizens by birth |
| American Samoa | Unincorporated unorganized territory | 45K | U.S. nationals (not citizens unless naturalized) |
Residents pay most federal taxes, serve in military, but cannot vote for President and have non-voting House delegates.
| Country | Compact Since | Key Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall Islands | 1986 | U.S. provides defense, funding; U.S. military access (Kwajalein Atoll) |
| Micronesia (FSM) | 1986 | Similar; U.S. defense responsibility |
| Palau | 1994 | Similar; U.S. defense, economic aid |
These are independent UN member states. Citizens are not U.S. citizens/nationals. Compacts renegotiated 2023–24 ($7.1B total over 20 years).
"Own" implies property. Territories are under U.S. sovereignty but have distinct constitutional status (Insular Cases). Freely associated states are sovereign. No country is "owned" by another in modern international law.
The U.S. exercises authority over territories and has defense/economic ties with FAS—but ownership? No.