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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 the Republic of Korea, China and Japan. [1]
List of countries which Samoa maintains diplomatic relations with:
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|---|---|---|
| # | 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 |  Tuvalu | 1988 [7] |
| 39 |  Federated States of Micronesia | 19 April 1990 |
| 40 |  Singapore | 3 September 1990 |
| 41 |  Marshall Islands | 22 October 1990 |
| 42 |  Austria | 18 December 1992 |
| 43 |  Argentina | 18 May 1993 |
| 44 |  Maldives | 2 August 1993 |
| 45 |  Croatia | 8 March 1994 |
| 46 |  Vietnam | 29 March 1994 |
| — |  Holy See | 10 June 1994 |
| 47 |  Kyrgyzstan | 14 February 1995 [8] |
| 48 |  South Africa | 22 March 1995 |
| 49 |  Portugal | 9 June 1995 |
| 50 |  Czech Republic | 12 December 1995 |
| 51 |  Slovenia | 25 November 1996 |
| 52 |  Finland | 11 August 1999 |
| 53 |  Norway | 1999 |
| 54 |  Slovakia | 16 March 2000 |
| 55 |  Cyprus | 24 March 2000 |
| 56 |  Ireland | 26 June 2000 |
| 57 |  Seychelles | 29 August 2000 |
| 58 |  Malta | 22 July 2004 |
| 59 |  East Timor | 27 July 2004 |
| 60 |  Iceland | 15 October 2004 |
| 61 |  Brazil | 1 February 2005 |
| 62 |  North Macedonia | 18 August 2005 |
| 63 |  Brunei | 8 February 2006 |
| 64 |  Romania | 2 March 2006 |
| 65 |  Guatemala | 20 September 2007 |
| 66 |  Cuba | 11 October 2007 |
| 67 |  Albania | 1 August 2008 |
| 68 |  Mexico | 21 October 2008 |
| 69 |  Estonia | 23 January 2009 |
| 70 |  Lithuania | 19 February 2009 |
| 71 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 13 March 2009 |
| 72 |  Luxembourg | 2 June 2009 |
| 73 |  Georgia | 12 March 2010 |
| 74 |  Botswana | 18 March 2010 |
| 75 |  Monaco | 4 May 2010 |
| 76 |  United Arab Emirates | 11 May 2010 |
| 77 |  Cambodia | 18 May 2010 |
| 78 |  Montenegro | 28 January 2011 |
| 79 |  Morocco | 28 January 2011 |
| 80 |  Paraguay | 28 January 2011 |
| 81 |  Qatar | 9 March 2011 |
| 82 |  Hungary | 7 September 2011 |
| 83 |  Ecuador | 20 December 2011 |
| 84 |  Mongolia | 21 December 2011 |
| 85 |  Moldova | 14 June 2012 |
| 86 |  Latvia | 28 June 2012 |
| 87 |  Suriname | 16 November 2012 |
| 88 |  Kazakhstan | 7 February 2013 |
| 89 |  Poland | 8 March 2013 [9] |
| 90 |  Nepal | 28 March 2013 |
| 91 |  Uruguay | 21 May 2013 [10] |
| — |  Cook Islands | 30 August 2013 [11] |
| 92 |  Ukraine | 23 September 2013 [10] |
| — |  Kosovo | 10 March 2017 [12] |
| 93 |  Tajikistan | 22 December 2017 [10] |
| 94 |  Azerbaijan | 19 January 2018 [10] |
| 95 |  El Salvador | 17 April 2018 [13] |
| 96 |  San Marino | 28 February 2019 [14] |
| 97 |  Ghana | 20 December 2019 [10] |
| 98 |  Dominican Republic | 23 September 2021 [15] |
| 99 |  Jamaica | 26 April 2022 [16] |
| 100 |  Bahrain | 27 April 2023 [10] |
| 101 |  Bulgaria | 8 May 2023 [10] |
| 102 |  Cape Verde | 9 May 2023 [10] |
| 103 |  Saint Lucia | 14 December 2023 [17] |
| 104 |  Saudi Arabia | 23 May 2024 [10] |
| 105 |  Bahamas | 21 October 2024 [18] |
| 106 |  Rwanda | 22 October 2024 [19] |
| 107 |  Kiribati | Established, date unknown [20] |
| 108 |  Tonga | Established, date unknown [21] |
| Country | Notes |
|---|---|
| Argentina |
|
| Australia | |
| Canada |
|
| 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. |
| 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. [27] [28]
|
| Fiji |
|
| 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.
|
| Germany | |
| India | See India–Samoa relations
|
| 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. [29] Japan opened an embassy in Apia on 1 January 2013. [30]
|
| Kosovo | In September 2008, Samoa became the 46th country to officially recognise the independence of Kosovo. [31] |
| 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. |
| South Korea | The Independent State of Samoa and the Republic of Korea have established diplomatic relations on 15 September 1972.
|
| Tonga | See Samoa–Tonga relations Both nations are Pacific Islands countries and members of the Commonwealth of Nations and Pacific Islands Forum.
|
| Turkey | See Samoa–Turkey relations
|
| United Kingdom |
|
| 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.
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Western Samoa joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970. [40]
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. [41]
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. [42] [43] [44]
Fiji has experienced many coups recently, in 1987, 2000, and 2006. Fiji has been suspended various times from the Commonwealth of Nations, a grouping of mostly former British colonies. It was readmitted to the Commonwealth in December 2001, following the parliamentary election held to restore democracy in September that year, and has been suspended again because of the 2006 coup, but has been readmitted a second time after the 2014 election. Other Pacific Island governments have generally been sympathetic to Fiji's internal political problems and have declined to take public positions.
The government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) conducts its own foreign relations. Since independence in 1986, the FSM has established diplomatic relations with 92 countries, including all of its Pacific neighbors.
Kiribati is a full member of the Commonwealth, the IMF and the World Bank, and became a full member of the United Nations in 1999. Kiribati hosted the Thirty-First Pacific Islands Forum in October 2000. Kiribati has Least Developed Country Status and its interests rarely extend beyond the region. Through accession to the Lomé Convention, then Cotonou Agreement, Kiribati is also a member of the African Caribbean and Pacific Group. Kiribati maintains good relations with most countries and has particularly close ties to Pacific neighbours Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand. Kiribati briefly suspended its relations with France in 1995 over that country's decision to renew nuclear testing in the South Pacific.
The foreign relations of New Zealand are oriented chiefly toward developed democratic nations and emerging Pacific Island economies. Until the late 20th century, New Zealand aligned itself strongly with the United Kingdom and had few bilateral relationships with other countries. From the latter half of the 20th century, Australia has been New Zealand's most important cultural, economic and military partner. Today, the country participates in several multilateral political organisations, including Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Pacific Community, and the Pacific Islands Forum. New Zealand has been described as an emerging power; however, such a claim needs to be considered in the context of its medium-sized economy and limited military capability. The country's major political parties have generally agreed on the broad outlines of foreign policy, and the government has been active in promoting free trade, nuclear disarmament, and arms control.
Papua New Guinea's foreign policy reflects close ties with Australia and other traditional allies and cooperative relations with neighboring countries. Its views on international political and economic issues are generally moderate.
From 1916 to 1975, Tuvalu was part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony of the United Kingdom. A referendum was held in 1974 to determine whether the Gilbert Islands and Ellice Islands should each have their own administration. As a consequence of the referendum, the separate British colonies of Kiribati and Tuvalu were formed. Tuvalu became fully independent as a sovereign state within the Commonwealth on 1 October 1978. On 5 September 2000, Tuvalu became the 189th member of the United Nations.
Tonga, by a modification of its treaty of friendship with the United Kingdom in July 1970, is responsible for its own external affairs. It maintains cordial relations with most countries and has close relations with its Pacific neighbours and the United Kingdom. In 1998, it recognized the People's Republic of China and broke relations with Taiwan.
The foreign policy of Solomon Islands as of 2008 was described by the Solomon Islands government as a "look north" policy, aimed as strengthening diplomatic and economic relations with Asian countries for development purposes.
Tofilau Eti Alesana was a Samoan politician who served as the fifth prime minister of Samoa from 1982 to 1985, and again from 1988 until his resignation in 1998.
SusugaTuilaʻepa Lupesoliai Neioti Aiono Saʻilele Malielegaoi is a Samoan politician and economist who served as the sixth prime minister of Samoa from 1998 to 2021. Tuilaʻepa is Samoa's longest serving prime minister and was leader of the opposition from 2021 to 2022. Since 1998, he has led the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP). Tuilaʻepa first entered parliament in 1981 when he won a by-election to represent the electorate of Lepā. He also served as deputy prime minister and minister of finance in the government of Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana, and also held the portfolios of Tourism and Trade, Commerce & Industry.
The Cook Islands maintains diplomatic relations with various countries and is a member of multilateral organisations. While the country is in free association with New Zealand, which can act on the Cook Islands' "delegated authority [...] to assist the Cooks Islands" in foreign affairs, the Cook Islands nevertheless enters into treaty obligations and otherwise "interacts with the international community as a sovereign and independent state."
Niue maintains diplomatic relations with various other countries and multilateral organizations.
Bilateral relations between Samoa and the United States are considered cordial and warm.
Samoa and China (PRC) established official diplomatic relations in 1976. The two countries currently maintain cordial relations; China provides economic aid to Samoa.
The Polynesian Leaders Group (PLG) is an international governmental cooperation group bringing together four independent countries and eight self-governing territories in Polynesia.
The political status of the Cook Islands and Niue is formally defined as being states in free association within the Realm of New Zealand, which is made up of the Cook Islands, Niue, and New Zealand and its territories, Tokelau and the Ross Dependency. The Cook Islands and Niue do not have full constitutional independence from New Zealand but act as independent countries. Some countries have recognised them as sovereign entities and established diplomatic relations. However, New Zealand may carry out defence and foreign affairs on behalf of the two associated states when requested.
India–Samoa relations are the international relations that exist between India and Samoa. The High Commission of India in Wellington, New Zealand, is concurrently accredited to Samoa. Samoa maintains an Honorary Consul in New Delhi.
Pakistan–Samoa relations are the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Samoa. Pakistan's High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand, is concurrently accredited to Samoa. Pakistan also has an honorary consul in Apia. Both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Israel–Samoa relations are bilateral ties between the State of Israel and the Independent State of Samoa. Israel is accredited to Samoa from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand. Samoa has an honorary consul in Israel, resides in Ness Ziona.
Sopoaga Taafaki Tuvalu's Ambassador to the Republic of Fiji and High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea and Western Samoa...
Западное Самоа (14 февраля 1995 года); Республика Сан-Марино (20 сентября 2004 года); Королевство Саудовская Аравия (19 октября 1992 года)
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