Foreign relations of Samoa


The Samoan Government is generally conservative and pro-Western, with a strong interest in regional political and economic issues. Samoa participated in a first round of negotiations with its Pacific Island neighbors for a regional trade agreement in August 2000. In January 2009, Samoa opened embassies in China and Japan.

Diplomatic relations

Countries having diplomatic relations with Samoa:
#Diplomatic relations of SamoaDate
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
–
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
–
88
89
90
–
91
92
93
94
95
96Established, date unknown
97Established, date unknown
98Established, date unknown
99Established, date unknown
100Established, date unknown

Bilateral relations

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
18 May 1993
31 March 1971
  • Australia has a High Commission in Apia.
  • Samoa has a High Commission in Canberra and a consulate-general in Sydney.
    • May 1973
  • Belgium is accredited to Samoa from its embassy in Canberra, Australia.
  • Samoa has an embassy in Brussels.
    • 1 February 2005
  • Brazil is accredited to Samoa from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Samoa does not have an accreditation to Brazil.
    • 11 June 1971
  • Canada is accredited to Samoa from its high commission in Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Samoa is accredited to Canada from its mission in New York City.
    • 28 August 1978
  • Chile is accredited to Samoa from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand and maintains an honorary consulate in Apia.
  • Samoa does not have an accreditation to Chile.
    • 6 November 1975See China–Samoa relationsThe Independent State of Samoa and the People's Republic of China established official diplomatic relations in 1976. The two countries currently maintain cordial relations; China provides economic aid to Samoa.
    • China has an embassy in Apia.
    • Samoa has an embassy in Beijing and has an honorary consulate in Hong Kong.
    11 October 2007Samoa participated in the first Cuba-Pacific Islands ministerial meeting in Havana in September 2008, aimed at "strengthening cooperation" between Cuba and Samoa, notably in coping with the impact of climate change.
    • Cuba is accredited to Samoa from its embassy in Suva, Fiji.
    • Samoa does not have an accreditation to Cuba.
    10 November 1974
  • Fiji is accredited to Samoa from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs based in Suva.
  • Samoa is accredited to Fiji from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs based in Apia and has a Student Counselor office in Suva.
    • September 1974The Samoan Government was an outspoken critic of the French decision to resume nuclear weapons testing in the South Pacific Ocean in 1995. An indefinite ban was placed on visits to Samoa by French warships and aircraft. Large-scale street demonstrations were held in Apia. The French tests concluded in early 1996.
    • France is accredited to Samoa from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand and maintains an honorary consulate in Apia.
    • Samoa is accredited to France from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
    18 May 1972
  • Germany is accredited to Samoa from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand and maintains an honorary consulate in Apia.
  • Samoa is accredited to Germany from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium and maintains an honorary consulate in Berlin.
    • June 1970See India–Samoa relations
  • India is accredited to Samoa from its high commission in Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Samoa does not have an accreditation to India.
    • 1973Diplomatic relations between Japan and Samoa were established in 1973. Ministerial level visits are frequent between the two countries. Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko made a state visit to Samoa in 2003 when the Emperor was still Crown Prince. Japan opened an embassy in Apia on 1 January 2013.
    • Japan has an embassy in Apia.
    • Samoa has an embassy in Tokyo.
    10 March 2017In September 2008, Samoa became the 46th country to officially recognise the independence of Kosovo.
    21 October 2008See Mexico–Samoa relations
    • Mexico is accredited to Samoa from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand and maintains an honorary consulate in Apia.
    • Samoa does not have an accreditation to Mexico.
    1 January 1962See New Zealand–Samoa relationsAt independence in 1962, Samoa signed a Treaty of Friendship with New Zealand. This treaty confirms the special relationship between the two countries and provides a framework for their interaction. Under the terms of the treaty, Samoa can request that New Zealand act as a channel of communication to governments and international organizations outside the immediate area of the Pacific islands. Samoa can also request defense assistance which New Zealand is required to consider, as Samoa does not maintain a formal military. Overall, Samoa has strong links with New Zealand, where many Samoans now live and many others were educated. New Zealand is the closest stopping ground for travel to Samoa.
    • New Zealand has a high commission in Apia.
    • Samoa has a high commission in Wellington and a consulate-general in Auckland.
    27 August 1979
  • Papua New Guinea is accredited to Samoa from its High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Samoa is accredited to Papua New Guinea from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Apia.
    • 2 July 1976
  • Russia is accredited to Samoa from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Samoa does not have an accreditation to Russia.
    • 15 September 1972
  • Samoa does not have an accreditation to South Korea.
  • South Korea is accredited to Samoa from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand.
    • 5 November 1980See Samoa–Spain relations
  • Samoa is accredited to Spain from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
  • Spain is accredited to Samoa from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand.
    • See Samoa–Tonga relationsBoth nations are Pacific Islands countries and members of the Commonwealth of Nations and Pacific Islands Forum.
    • Samoa is accredited to Tonga from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Apia.
    • Tonga is accredited to Samoa from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nukuʻalofa.
    September 1970
  • Samoa is accredited to the United Kingdom from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
  • United Kingdom has a High Commission in Apia.
    • 1971See Samoa–United States relationsThe two countries share cordial relations. Since 1967, the United States has supported a substantial Peace Corps program in Samoa. Over 1,700 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Samoa over that time, with 51 Volunteers currently in-country. Peace Corps programs emphasize village-based development and capacity building. Other forms of U.S. assistance to Samoa are limited. The U.S. Embassy, staffed by a single officer, is the smallest Embassy in Samoa and one of the few one-officer U.S. Embassies in the world.
    • Samoa is accredited to the United States from its mission in New York City and has a consulate-general in Pago Pago, American Samoa.
    • United States has an embassy in Apia.

    Samoa and the Commonwealth of Nations

    Western Samoa became independent on 1 January 1962, but did not formally join the Commonwealth of Nations until 1970. Between 1962 and 1970, Western Samoa was treated as though it was a Commonwealth member state. Since 2007, Samoa has been classed as a Commonwealth republic.

    International organization participation

    ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, SOPAC, SPREP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO.

    Regional integration

    Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has pushed through a variety of legislation to increase links between Samoa and the Pacific regional powers of Australia and New Zealand. Under his leadership the country switched to driving on the left, decided to shift westwards across the international date line and adopted daylight saving time, and proposed the introduction of a common Pacific currency.
    In late 2011, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi initiated a meeting of Polynesian leaders which led, in November, to the formal launching of the Polynesian Leaders Group, a regional grouping intended to cooperate on a variety of issues including culture and language, education, responses to climate change, and trade and investment. The Group was in part a response to the Melanesian Spearhead Group.