Not sure why but Pinocchio Joe has considered it necessary to recognize Niue and the Cook Islands as a sovereign and independent states

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/09/25/statement-by-president-biden-on-the-recognition-of-niue-and-the-establishment-of-diplomatic-relations/
and
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/09/25/statement-by-president-biden-on-the-recognition-of-the-cook-islands-and-the-establishment-of-diplomatic-relations/
Both were managed by New Zealand. 

Niue in particular has only a couple thousand people. Pretty small for a "country".