Editing History of Palau (section)

==Post-war era==
[[File:Palau Museum Bai in 1970s.jpg|thumb|Palau Museum Bai in 1970s]]
[[File:Vote No sign, Micronesian constitutional referendum in Palau.jpg|thumb|"Vote No" sign, [[1978 Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands constitutional referendum|Micronesian constitutional referendum]] in Palau, 1978]]In 1947, the United States, as the post-World War II occupying power, agreed to administer Palau as part of the U.N.-created [[Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands]] (TTPI). While the U.S. used Palau as a strategic military base, it was reluctant to provide socioeconomic development and welfare for the residents in order to protect their traditional way of life.<ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Andrews |first1=Cameron Jack |date=2017-12-14 |title=Micronesia in Modern Geopolitics |url=http://hdl.handle.net/2152/63613 |publisher=The University of Texas at Austin  |access-date=2025-02-25}}</ref> This policy was criticized as a "zoo policy", and in the 1960s, the policy was changed to include Peace Corps deployments and technical assistance in education, medicine, and industry. In the 1970s, the U.S. undertook a major capital improvement program, upgrading facilities for such things as transportation, water, and sewage. After many years of talks on a post-trust status for Palau, the U.S. Congress in 1986 approved a [[Compact of Free Association]] agreed to by U.S. and Palauan negotiators. While supported by a majority of Palauan voters in each of seven referendums, compact proponents failed to gain the 75% majority required by Palau's constitution to approve issues with possible nuclear implications. After adoption of a constitutional amendment and a long period of transition, including the violent deaths of two presidents ([[Haruo Remeliik]] in 1985 and [[Lazarus Salii]] in 1988), Palau's courts ruled that the 68% pro-compact vote in an eighth referendum—held November 9, 1993—was sufficient to approve the compact.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

On October 1, 1994, following a proclamation by President [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]], Palau began its independence in free association with the U.S. Under the compact, the U.S. remains responsible for Palau's defense for 50 years. The U.S. must approve the entry into Palauan territory of any foreign military, may establish military bases there, and is permitted to operate nuclear-capable warships there. For 15 years, Palau receives financial assistance from the U.S. and is eligible to participate in some 40 federal programs. It is estimated that the value of U.S. financial and program assistance will exceed $500 million during this period.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=1996|title=Department of State publication. no.10353 Palau.|url=https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000889471|journal=Background Notes|series=Some issues: Foreign relations of the United States|pages=v|via=Hathitrust}}</ref>

In November 2020, [[Surangel Whipps Jr.|Surangel Whipps Jr]] was elected as the new [[President of Palau]] to succeed President [[Tommy Remengesau]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/429990/surangel-whipps-jr-to-be-palau-s-new-president|title=Surangel Whipps Jr to be Palau's new president|website=[[Radio New Zealand]]|date=6 November 2020}}</ref>

[[Image:Capitol-complex-melekeok-palau20071220 crop.jpg|right|thumb|260px|The New Capitol in Palau]]