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Foreign relations

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 the Republic of Korea, China and Japan.[1]

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Samoa maintains diplomatic relations with:

# Country Date[2]
1  New Zealand 1 January 1962
2  India June 1970
3  United Kingdom September 1970
4  Australia 31 March 1971
5  Canada 11 June 1971
6  United States 14 July 1971[3]
7  Germany 18 May 1972
8  Israel 30 May 1972
9  South Korea 15 September 1972
10  Japan 27 March 1973
11  Belgium May 1973
12  France September 1974
13  Fiji 10 November 1974
14  China 6 November 1975
15  Thailand 15 November 1975
16  Netherlands 13 April 1976
17  Russia 2 July 1976
18  Philippines 1 June 1977[4]
19  Sweden 1977
20  Solomon Islands 17 July 1978[5]
21  Chile 24 August 1978
22  Egypt 8 September 1978
23  Turkey 12 April 1979
24  Papua New Guinea 27 August 1979
25  Nauru 1979[6]
26  Indonesia 17 March 1980
27  Vanuatu 30 June 1980
28  Spain 5 November 1980
29  Greece 3 April 1981
30   Switzerland 1 August 1981
31  Malaysia August 1982
32  Pakistan 7 March 1983
33  Bangladesh 21 December 1983
34  Sri Lanka 1 January 1984
35  Peru 23 January 1984
36  Italy 25 May 1987
37  Colombia 1 December 1987
38  Federated States of Micronesia 19 April 1990
39  Singapore 3 September 1990
40  Marshall Islands 22 October 1990
41  Austria 18 December 1992
42  Argentina 18 May 1993
43  Maldives 2 August 1993
44  Croatia 8 March 1994
45  Vietnam 29 March 1994
–  Holy See 10 June 1994
46  Kyrgyzstan 14 February 1995[7]
47  South Africa 22 March 1995
48  Portugal 9 June 1995
49  Czech Republic 12 December 1995
50  Slovenia 25 November 1996
51  Finland 11 August 1999
52  Norway 1999
53  Slovakia 16 March 2000
54  Cyprus 24 March 2000
55  Ireland 26 June 2000
56  Seychelles 29 August 2000
57  Malta 22 July 2004
58  East Timor 27 July 2004
59  Iceland 15 October 2004
60  Brazil 1 February 2005
61  North Macedonia 18 August 2005
62  Brunei 8 February 2006
63  Romania 2 March 2006
64  Guatemala 20 September 2007
65  Cuba 11 October 2007
66  Albania 1 August 2008
67  Mexico 21 October 2008
68  Estonia 23 January 2009
69  Lithuania 19 February 2009
70  Bosnia and Herzegovina 13 March 2009
71  Luxembourg 2 June 2009
72  Georgia 12 March 2010
73  Botswana 18 March 2010
74  Monaco 4 May 2010
75  United Arab Emirates 11 May 2010
76  Cambodia 18 May 2010
77  Montenegro 28 January 2011
78  Morocco 28 January 2011
79  Paraguay 28 January 2011
80  Qatar 9 March 2011
81  Hungary 7 September 2011
82  Ecuador 20 December 2011
83  Mongolia 21 December 2011
84  Moldova 14 June 2012
85  Latvia 28 June 2012
86  Suriname 16 November 2012[8]
87  Kazakhstan 7 February 2013
88  Poland 8 March 2013[9]
89    Nepal 28 March 2013
90  Uruguay 21 May 2013[10]
–  Cook Islands 30 August 2013[11]
91  Ukraine 23 September 2013[10]
–  Kosovo 10 March 2017[12]
92  Tajikistan 22 December 2017[10]
93  Azerbaijan 19 January 2018[10]
94  El Salvador 17 April 2018[13]
95  San Marino 28 February 2019[14]
96  Ghana 20 December 2019[10]
97  Dominican Republic 23 September 2021[15]
98  Jamaica 26 April 2022[16]
99  Bahrain 27 April 2023[10]
100  Bulgaria 8 May 2023[10]
101  Cape Verde 9 May 2023[10]
102  Saint Lucia December 2023[17]
103  Kiribati Established, date unknown[18]
104  Tonga Established, date unknown[19]
105  Tuvalu Established, date unknown[20]

Bilateral relations

Country Notes
 Argentina
  • Argentina is accredited to Samoa from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Samoa has an honorary consulate in Buenos Aires.[21]
 Australia
 Canada
  • Canada is accredited to Samoa from its high commission in Wellington, New Zealand.[24]
  • Samoa is accredited to Canada from its mission in New York City.[25]
 China See China–Samoa relations

The Independent State of Samoa and the People's Republic of China (PRC) 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.[21]
 Cuba

Samoa 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.[26][27]

  • Cuba is accredited to Samoa from its embassy in Suva, Fiji.
  • Samoa does not have an accreditation to Cuba.
 Fiji
  • Fiji is accredited to Samoa from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs based in Suva.
  • Samoa has a high commission in Suva.
 France

The 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.
 Germany
  • 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.[21]
 India See India–Samoa relations
  • India is accredited to Samoa from its high commission in Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Samoa does not have an accreditation to India.
 Japan

Diplomatic 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.[28] Japan opened an embassy in Apia on 1 January 2013.[29]

  • Japan has an embassy in Apia.
  • Samoa has an embassy in Tokyo.
 Kosovo

In September 2008, Samoa became the 46th country to officially recognise the independence of Kosovo.[30]

 Mexico
  • Mexico is accredited to Samoa from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand and maintains an honorary consulate in Apia.[31][32]
  • Samoa does not have an accreditation to Mexico.
 New Zealand See New Zealand–Samoa relations

At 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.[33]
  • Samoa has a high commission in Wellington and a consulate-general in Auckland.[34]
 South Korea

The Independent State of Samoa and the Republic of Korea have established diplomatic relations on 15 September 1972.

  • Samoa and South Korea have good diplomatic relations.[35]
 Tonga See Samoa–Tonga relations

Both 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.
 Turkey See Samoa–Turkey relations
 United Kingdom
  • Samoa is accredited to the United Kingdom from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
  • United Kingdom has a high commission in Apia.
 United States See Samoa–United States relations

The 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 and the Commonwealth of Nations

Western Samoa joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970.[39]

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.[40]

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.[41][42][43]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Samoa adds two diplomatic missions in Asia". Radio New Zealand International. 13 January 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  2. ^ "Countries with Established Diplomatic Relations with Samoa". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Samoa. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  3. ^ "All Countries". Office of the Historian. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  4. ^ "The Republic of the Philippines and Samoa celebrate 44 years of formal diplomatic relations today, June 1!". 1 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  5. ^ Report for the Year ... Solomon Islands. 1981. p. 21. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  6. ^ The Europa year book : a world survey. 1979. Vol. 2. Europa Publications Limited. 1979. p. 1770.
  7. ^ "Список стран, установивших дипломатические отношения..." (in Russian). Retrieved 17 April 2019. Западное Самоа (14 февраля 1995 года); Республика Сан-Марино (20 сентября 2004 года); Королевство Саудовская Аравия (19 октября 1992 года)
  8. ^ "Lijst van Diplomatieke Betrekkingen en Visum-afschaffingsovereenkomsten" (PDF) (in Dutch). 16 May 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Celebration of the Signing of Diplomatic Relations between Poland and Samoa, Auckland 17th November 2013" (PDF). Foreign Affairs & Trade Bulletin. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Samoa. p. 3. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h "Diplomatic relations between Samoa and ..." United Nations Digital Library. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Foreign Affairs & Trade Bulletin" (PDF). p. 2. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  12. ^ Kosovo and Samoa establish diplomatic relations, KosovaPress, 2017-03-10
  13. ^ Garcia, Luis Eliezer (17 April 2018). "El Salvador establece relaciones diplomáticas con el Estado Independiente de Samoa". rree.gob.sv (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  14. ^ "Accordo tra la Repubblica di San Marino e lo Stato Indipendente di Samoa sullo stabilimento delle relazioni diplomatiche, firmato a New York il 28 febbraio 2019 – Consiglio Grande e Generale". consigliograndeegenerale.sm (in Italian). Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  15. ^ "ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF SAMOA AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC" (in Spanish). 24 September 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  16. ^ "JAMAICA AND THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF SAMOA ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS". 29 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  17. ^ "Saint Lucia and the Independent State of Samoa establish diplomatic relations, with the joint communiqué signed by the PRs H.E Menissa Rambally and H.E Fatumanava Paolelei Luteru of and current AOSISChair". 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  18. ^ Ueantabo Fakaofo Neemia (1995). Smallness, islandness and foreign policy behaviour: aspects of island microstates foreign policy behaviour with special reference to Cook Islands and Kiribati (Thesis). University of Wollongong. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  19. ^ "His Majesty's Government reaches out to neighbouring Samoas". 7 October 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  20. ^ "News from Cabinet, 2 April 2015 – Government of Samoa". Government of Samoa (in English and Samoan). Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  21. ^ a b c Honorary consulates of Samoa
  22. ^ High Commission of Australia in Samoa
  23. ^ Consulate-General of Samoa in Sydney
  24. ^ High Commission of Canada in New Zealand
  25. ^ a b Samoan Permanent Mission to the United Nations
  26. ^ "Cuban Foreign Minister Opens Cuba-Pacific Islands Meeting", Cuban News Agency, 16 September 2008
  27. ^ "Pacific and Cuba meet to discuss co-operation". Radio New Zealand International. 17 September 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  28. ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Japan
  29. ^ Embassy of Japan in New Zealand web site
  30. ^ "Samoa recognises Kosovo independence: Pristina", Agence France-Presse, 16 September 2008
  31. ^ Embassy of Mexico in New Zealand (in English and Spanish)
  32. ^ Overseas Honorary Consuls in Samoa
  33. ^ "New Zealand High Commission in Samoa". Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  34. ^ Samoan High Commission in New Zealand
  35. ^ "Search | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea".
  36. ^ "Relations between Turkey and Samoa". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  37. ^ Samoan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  38. ^ US Embassy in Samoa
  39. ^ "Samoa". 15 August 2013.
  40. ^ McLean, Tamara (29 June 2011). "Samoa's dateline jump passes into law". Herald Sun. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  41. ^ Andrews, John (19 September 2011). "NZ may be invited to join proposed 'Polynesian Triangle' ginger group". Scoop News. Pacific Scoop News. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  42. ^ "New Polynesian Leaders Group formed in Samoa". Radio New Zealand. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  43. ^ "American Samoa joins Polynesian Leaders Group, MOU signed". Samoa News. Savalii. 20 November 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
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