Dependent territory

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A dependent territory is a territory that is not fully independent or sovereign. They belong to a sovereign state, and are dependent on that state to some degree. There are varying degrees and forms of such a dependence. They are commonly distinguished from subnational entities in that they are not considered to be part of the state. A subnational entity typically represents a division of the country proper, while a dependent territory is a legally separate territory that enjoys a greater degree of autonomy.

As an example, Greenland is a dependent territory of Denmark, and Saint Helena is a dependent territory of the United Kingdom.

Most of these dependent territories were originally colonies, which often had no autonomy.

Lists of dependent territories[change | change source]

This list includes all territories that have not been legally incorporated into their governing state, including several territories that are not on the list of non-self-governing territories of the General Assembly of the United Nations.[1] Dependency claims without general international recognition, including all claims in Antarctica, are listed in italics.

New Zealand[change | change source]

Main article: Realm of New Zealand

Summary: New Zealand has one dependent territory (Tokelau) and a territorial claim in Antarctica, as well as two self-governing associated states.

In free association Administration ISO 3166 country codes
 Cook Islands Self-governing state in free association with New Zealand since 1965. Cook Islands' status is considered to be equivalent to independence for international law purposes, and the country exercises full sovereignty over its internal and external affairs.[2] Under the terms of the free association agreement, however, New Zealand retains some responsibility for the foreign relations and defense of the Cook Islands. These responsibilities confer no rights of control and are exercised only at the request of the Cook Islands Government. The government of New Zealand does not consider the Cook Islands to be sovereign due to its continued use of New Zealand citizenship.[3] CK-
 Niue Self-governing state in free association with New Zealand since 1974. Niue's status is considered to be equivalent to independence for international law purposes, and the country exercises full sovereignty over its internal and external affairs.[2] Under the terms of the free association agreement, however, New Zealand retains some responsibility for the foreign relations and defense of Niue. These responsibilities confer no rights of control and are exercised only at the request of the Government of Niue. The government of New Zealand does not consider Niue to be sovereign due to its continued use of New Zealand citizenship.[3] NU-
Territory Administration ISO 3166 country codes
 Tokelau Territory of New Zealand. As it moves toward free association with New Zealand, Tokelau and New Zealand have agreed to a draft constitution. A UN-sponsored referendum on self-governance in February 2006 did not produce the two-thirds supermajority necessary for changing the current political status. Another one was in October 2007, which failed to reach the ​2⁄3 margin. TK-
 Ross Dependency No permanent population. New Zealand's Antarctic claim. Unlike Tokelau and the associated states (Cook Islands and Niue), it is constitutionally part of New Zealand.[4] within AQ

Norway[change | change source]

Main article: Dependencies of Norway

Summary: Norway has 1 dependent territory and 2 dependency claims.

Dependency Administration ISO 3166 country codes
 Bouvet Island No permanent population. Dependency administered from Oslo by the Polar Affairs Department of the Ministry of Justice and the Police. BV-
 Peter I Island No permanent population. Dependencies (subject to the Antarctic Treaty System) administered from Oslo by the Polar Affairs Department of the Ministry of Justice and the Police. within AQ
 Queen Maud Land

United Kingdom[change | change source]

Main articles: British Overseas Territories and Crown dependencies

Summary: the United Kingdom has 13 Overseas Territories (10 autonomous, 1 restricted to military personnel, 1 uninhabited, 1 group of Sovereign Base Areas), 3 Crown dependencies (autonomous), and 1 dependency claim.

Overseas territories (inhabited) Administration ISO 3166 country codes
 Anguilla House of Assembly of Anguilla handles domestic affairs. Appears on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. AI-
 Bermuda Parliament of Bermuda handles domestic affairs and the territory is defined by the UK as self-governing. Appears on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. BM-
 British Indian Ocean Territory Administered by the Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory, reporting to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Original population removed between 1967 and 1973, and presently restricted to military personnel. Also claimed by Mauritius. IO-
 British Virgin Islands House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands handles domestic affairs. Appears on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories VG-
 Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands handles domestic affairs. Appears on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. KY-
 Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands handles domestic affairs. Appears on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. Also claimed by Argentina. FK-
 Gibraltar Gibraltar Parliament handles domestic affairs. Almost complete internal self-government. Appears on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. GI-
 Montserrat Legislative Council of Montserrat handles domestic affairs. Appears on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. MS-
Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands Island Council of the Pitcairn Islands handles some domestic affairs, however decisions are subject to approval by the Governor of the Pitcairn Islands, reporting to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Appears on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. PN-
 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Legislative Council of Saint Helena, Ascension Island Council and Tristan da Cunha Island Council handle domestic affairs. Appears on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. SH-
 Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly of the Turks and Caicos Islands handles some domestic affairs. Appears on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. TC-
Overseas territories (uninhabited) Administration ISO 3166 country codes
 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Administered by the Commissioner of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (who is also the Governor of the Falkland Islands), reporting to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. No permanent population. Also claimed by Argentina. GS-
 British Antarctic Territory Administered by the Commissioner of the British Antarctic Territory, reporting to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. No permanent population. The UK's Antarctic claim. within AQ
Sovereign Base Areas Administration ISO 3166 country codes
Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Administered by the Commander of British Forces Cyprus, reporting to the Ministry of Defence. Permanent Cypriot population, as well as British military personnel and their families. No ISO 3166 code
Crown dependencies Administration ISO 3166 country codes
Bailiwick of Guernsey Responsibility for defence, international representation, and good government rests with the United Kingdom. The Parliament of the United Kingdom can legislate on their behalf, if it deems it necessary to do so.[5][6][7] GG-
 Bailiwick of Jersey JE-
 Isle of Man IM-

United States[change | change source]

Main article: Territories of the United States

Summary: the United States has 11 dependent territories and 2 dependency claims. The uninhabited Palmyra Atoll is administered similarly to some of these territories, but unlike the others is a fully incorporated part of the United States.[8]

Unincorporated organized territories
(inhabited)		 Administration ISO 3166 country codes
 Guam Unincorporated organized territory of the U.S.; policy relations conducted through Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior. Appears on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. US-GU or

GU

 Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth in political union with the U.S.; federal funding administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior. US-MP or

MP

 Puerto Rico Unincorporated organized territory of the U.S. with commonwealth status; policy relations conducted through Office of the President. US-PR or

PR

 U.S. Virgin Islands Unincorporated organized territory of the U.S.; policy relations conducted by the Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior. Appears on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. US-VI or

VI

Unincorporated unorganized territories
(inhabited)		 Administration ISO 3166 country codes
 American Samoa Unincorporated unorganized territory administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. Appears on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. US-AS or

AS

Unincorporated unorganized territories
(uninhabited)[note 1]		 Administration ISO 3166 country codes
 Baker Island Unincorporated unorganized territories of the U.S. administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior. US-UM-81 or

UM-81

 Howland Island US-UM-84 or

UM-84

 Jarvis Island US-UM-86 or

UM-86

 Johnston Atoll US-UM-67 or

UM-67

 Kingman Reef US-UM-89 or

UM-89

 Midway Atoll Unincorporated unorganized territory of the U.S. administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior. No permanent population. US-UM-71 or

UM-71

 Navassa Island Unincorporated unorganized territory of the U.S. administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior from the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Claimed by Haiti and privately via the Guano Islands Act. US-UM-76 or

UM-76

 Wake Island Unincorporated unorganized territory of the U.S. administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior. Claimed by the Marshall Islands. No permanent population. US-UM-79 or

UM-79

Bajo Nuevo Bank Administered by Colombia. Claimed by the U.S. (under Guano Islands Act) and Jamaica. A claim by Nicaragua was resolved in 2012 in favor of Colombia by the International Court of Justice (U.S. not a party nor recognizes Court's jurisdiction). within CO-SAP
Serranilla Bank Administered by Colombia; site of a naval garrison. Claimed by the U.S. (since 1879 under Guano Islands Act), Honduras, and Jamaica. A claim by Nicaragua was resolved in 2012 in favor of Colombia by the International Court of Justice (U.S. not a party nor recognizes Court's jurisdiction).

References[change | change source]

  1. ↑ For the list, see Special Committee on Decolonization (2002). "Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories". United Nations, Special Committee on Decolonization. Archived from the original on 2017-10-06. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/publications-archived/2000/pacific-peoples-constitution-report-september-2000/documents/Bibliography.doc
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Conan, Neal (11 August 2015). "Pacific News Minute: Cook Islands Bid for UN Membership On Hold". Hawai'i Public Radio. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  4. ↑ New Zealand and Antarctica. NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 2010
  5. ↑ CIA (2010-07-15). "Guernsey at the CIA's page". CIA. Archived from the original on 2010-03-24. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  6. ↑ CIA (2010-07-15). "Jersey at the CIA's page". CIA. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  7. ↑ CIA (2010-07-15). "The Isle of Man at the CIA's page". CIA. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  8. ↑ "Definitions of Insular Area Political Organizations". U.S. Department of the Interior. Retrieved 6 April 2019.

Notes

  1. ↑ Midway Atoll and Wake Island have a few people, but these territories are not permanently inhabited.
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