Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Turks and Caicos Islands Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
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@Tuvalu
Tuvalu Introduction
Background: In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000, Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv" for $50 million in royalties over the next dozen years.
Tuvalu Geography
Location: Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia