Having voted in a referendum against joining the Federated States of Micronesia in 1978,[11][12] the islands gained full sovereignty in 1994 under a Compact of Free Association with the United States.
Politically, Palau is a presidential republic in free association with the United States, which provides defense, funding, and access to social services.
Palau is basically a U.S. vassal state.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palau
Remember that when someone claims America isn’t an empire.