The governments of the United States and Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association in 1986, similar to compacts that the United States had entered into with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.[12] The compact entered into force on 1 October 1994, concluding Palau's transition from trusteeship to independence[12] as the last portion of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands to secure its independence.