Foreign relations of Samoa

Samoa
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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.[1]

Diplomatic relations

Countries having diplomatic relations with Samoa[2]:

Countries having diplomatic relations with Samoa
#Diplomatic relations of SamoaDate
1 New Zealand1 January 1962
2 IndiaJune 1970
3 United KingdomSeptember 1970
4 Australia31 March 1971
5 Canada11 June 1971
6 United States1971
7 Germany18 May 1972
8 Israel30 May 1972
9 South Korea15 September 1972
10 Japan27 March 1973
11 BelgiumMay 1973
12 FranceSeptember 1974
13 Fiji10 November 1974
14 China6 November 1975
15 Thailand15 November 1975
16 Netherlands13 April 1976
17 Russia2 July 1976
18 Sweden1977
19 Chile24 August 1978
20 Egypt8 September 1978
21 Turkey12 April 1979
22 Papua New Guinea27 August 1979
23 Indonesia17 March 1980
24 Vanuatu30 June 1980
25 Spain5 November 1980
26 Greece3 April 1981
27 Philippines1981
28  Switzerland1 August 1981
29 MalaysiaAugust 1982
30 Pakistan7 March 1983
31 Bangladesh21 December 1893
32 Sri Lanka1 January 1984
33 Peru23 January 1984
34 Italy25 May 1987
35 Colombia1 December 1987
36 Federated States of Micronesia19 April 1990
37 Singapore3 September 1990
38 Marshall Islands22 October 1990
39 Austria18 December 1992
40 Argentina18 May 1993
41 Maldives2 August 1993
42 Croatia8 March 1994
43 Vietnam29 March 1994
– Holy See10 June 1994
44 South Africa22 March 1995
45 Portugal9 June 1995
46 Czech Republic12 December 1995
47 Slovenia25 November 1996
48 Finland11 August 1999
49 Norway1999
50 Slovakia16 March 2000
51 Cyprus24 March 2000
52 Republic of Ireland26 June 2000
53 Seychelles29 August 2000
54 Malta22 July 2004
55 Timor-Leste27 July 2004
56 Iceland15 October 2004
57 Brazil1 February 2005
58 Republic of Macedonia18 August 2005
59 Brunei8 February 2006
60 Romania2 March 2006
61 Guatemala20 September 2007
62 Cuba11 October 2007
63 Albania1 August 2008
64 Mexico21 October 2008
65 Estonia23 January 2009
66 Lithuania19 February 2009
67 Bosnia and Herzegovina13 March 2009
68 Luxembourg2 June 2009
69 Georgia12 March 2010
70 Botswana18 March 2010
71 Monaco4 May 2010
72 United Arab Emirates11 May 2010
73 Cambodia18 May 2010
74 Montenegro28 January 2011
75 Morocco28 January 2011
76 Paraguay28 January 2011
77 Qatar9 March 2011
78 Hungary7 September 2011
79 Ecuador20 December 2011
80 Mongolia21 December 2011
81 Ukraine7 May 2012
82 Moldova14 June 2012
83 Latvia28 June 2012
84 Suriname2012
85 Kazakhstan7 February 2013
86 Poland8 March 2013[3]
87   Nepal28 March 2013
88 Uruguay21 May 2013[4]
89 Kosovo10 March 2017[5]
90 Azerbaijan19 January 2018[6]
91 NauruEstablished, date unknown[7]
92 TongaEstablished, date unknown[8]

Bilateral relations

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Australia31 March 1971
 Canada11 June 1971
  • Canada is accredited to Samoa from its high commission in Wellington, New Zealand.[11]
  • Samoa is accredited to Canada from its mission in New York City.[12]
 China6 November 1975See 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.

The current Ambassador of China in Samoa is Ma Chongren.[13] Samoa has not yet appointed resident diplomatic personnel in China, but has announced its intention to do so.[14]

 Cuba11 October 2007

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.[15][16]

 FranceSeptember 1974

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.

 Japan1973

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.[17] Japan opened an embassy in Apia on 1 January 2013.[18]

 Kosovo

In September 2008, Samoa became the 46th country to officially recognise the independence of Kosovo.[19]

 Mexico22 October 2008
  • Mexico is accredited to Samoa from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand and maintains an honorary consulate in Apia.[20][21]
  • Samoa does not have an accreditation to Mexico.
 New Zealand1 January 1962See 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.[22]
  • Samoa has a high commission in Wellington and a consulate-general in Auckland.[23]
 TongaSee Samoa–Tonga relations

Both nations are Pacific Islands countries and members of the Commonwealth of Nations and Pacific Islands Forum.

 United States1971See 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 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 (nonsignatory user), 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.[26]

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.[27][28][29]

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. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "Foreign Affairs & Trade Bulletin January-March 2014 - Celebration of the Signing of Diplomatic Relations between Poland and Samoa, Auckland 17th November 2013". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Samoa. Missing or empty |url= (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  4. ↑ "Diplomatic Relations between Samoa and Uruguay as of 21 May 2013". United Nations Digital Library. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  5. ↑ Kosovo and Samoa establish diplomatic relations, KosovaPress, 2017-03-10
  6. ↑ "Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Samoa as of 19 January 2018". United Nations Digital Library. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  7. ↑ "List of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Republic of Nauru and Other Countries". Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  8. ↑ "His Majesty's Government reaches out to neighbouring Samoas". 7 October 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  9. ↑ High Commission of Australia in Samoa
  10. ↑ Consulate-General of Samoa in Sydney
  11. ↑ High Commission of Canada in New Zealand
  12. 1 2 Samoan Permanent Mission to the United Nations
  13. ↑ PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  14. ↑ "Samoa to establish diplomatic offices in China, Japan" Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine., Xinhua, 23 June 2006
  15. ↑ "Cuban Foreign Minister Opens Cuba-Pacific Islands Meeting", Cuban News Agency, 16 September 2008
  16. ↑ "Pacific and Cuba meet to discuss co-operation". Radio New Zealand International. 17 September 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  17. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Japan
  18. ↑ Embassy of Japan in New Zealand web site
  19. ↑ "Samoa recognises Kosovo independence: Pristina", Agence France-Presse, 16 September 2008
  20. ↑ Embassy of Mexico in New Zealand (in English and Spanish)
  21. ↑ Overseas Honorary Consuls in Samoa
  22. ↑ New Zealand High Commission in Samoa
  23. ↑ Samoan High Commission in New Zealand
  24. ↑ Samoan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  25. ↑ US Embassy in Samoa
  26. ↑ McLean, Tamara (29 June 2011). "Samoa's dateline jump passes into law". Herald Sun. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  27. ↑ "NZ may be invited to join proposed ‘Polynesian Triangle’ ginger group", Pacific Scoop, 19 September 2011
  28. ↑ "New Polynesian Leaders Group formed in Samoa", Radio New Zealand International, 18 November 2011
  29. ↑ "American Samoa joins Polynesian Leaders Group, MOU signed", Savali, 19 November 2011
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