 | |
 Germany |  Samoa |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of Germany, Wellington [1] | Embassy of Samoa, Brussels [2] |
Bilateral foreign relations between Germany and Samoa date back to the nineteenth century. Samoa, a former colony of the German colonial empire, has maintained diplomatic relations with the modern state of Germany since they were established with West Germany in 1972. In modern times, Germany helps Samoa fight climate change and provided aid during the COVID-19 pandemic in Samoa. [3] [4]
Germany–Samoa relations began in the mid-nineteenth century in the time of Imperial Germany. Hanseatic trading companies established relations with Samoa, and the German Reich signed a trade agreement with Samoa in 1879. [3] A deterioration in the relationship between German officials and Samoan king Malietoa Laupepa led to the former exiling the latter from Samoa in 1887. [5] This resulted in the Samoan Civil War, in which a naval standoff between Germany, the United States, and the British Empire occurred. The war officially ended in 1889 with the Treaty of Berlin, [5] but hostilities remained until 1894. [6] [7]
Laupepa died in 1898, and Germany conflicted with the United States and the British Empire for imperial control of Samoa in the Second Samoan Civil War, which concluded with the Tripartite Convention in 1899. This convention divided Samoa into German Samoa and American Samoa. [3] Germany lost control of German Samoa in 1914 after it was invaded by the Samoa Expeditionary Force and occupied by New Zealand at the beginning of World War I. [8]
In the 1930s, German nationalist sentiment still existed in the Territory of Western Samoa, administered by New Zealand. The Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler, came to power in Germany in 1933, and in January 1934 a German colonist in Samoa named Alfred Matthes received permission to establish a Samoan branch of the party. [9] The Reichsmarine cruiser Karlsruhe visited Western Samoa a month later, [10] boosting German nationalism in the territory. [11] The Samoan branch of the Nazi Party was disbanded in April 1939. [12]
West Germany established diplomatic relations with Samoa in 1972, and East Germany followed suit in 1988. [3] Modern Germany seeks to help Samoa fight against climate change, and Samoa is a member of the United Nations Group of Friends on Climate and Security, which was founded by Germany and Nauru. Germany provides consultation to Samoa on the regional level, consulting on the transformation of Samoa's energy sector. [3] [13]
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Samoa, Germany collaborated with Samoan municipal governments to educate children about hygienic practices and to improve sanitary facilities. [4] Germany also collaborated with the Samoan National Archives and Records Authority to help digitize and preserve historical materials. [13]
Germany and Samoa have modest bilateral trade relations. In 2023, Germany exported €515,000 worth of goods to Samoa and imported €239,000 worth of goods from the country. From 2014 to 2020, Germany supported Samoa economically through the European Development Fund. [13]
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.
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), has full diplomatic relations with 180 out of the other 192 United Nations member states, Cook Islands, Niue and the State of Palestine. As of 2024, China has had the most diplomatic missions of any state.
The foreign relations of Switzerland are the primary responsibility of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). Some international relations of Switzerland are handled by other departments of the federal administration of Switzerland.
Foreign relations of Portugal are linked with its historical role as a major player in the Age of Discovery and the holder of the now defunct Portuguese Empire. Portugal is a European Union member country and a founding member of NATO. It is a committed proponent of European integration and transatlantic relations. João Gomes Cravinho is the current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal.
Belize maintains 14 embassies to foreign countries, one consulate, and three missions to international organizations. In 1990, Belize became a member of the Organization of American States, and the Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.
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.
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.
Since its founding in 1949, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has had a diplomatic tug-of-war with its rival in Taiwan, the Republic of China (ROC). Throughout the Cold War, both governments claimed to be the sole legitimate government of all China and allowed countries to recognize either one or the other. Until the 1970s, most Western countries in the Western Bloc recognized the ROC while the Eastern Bloc and Third World countries generally recognized the PRC. This gradually shifted and today only 11 UN member states recognize the ROC while the PRC is recognized by the United Nations, as well as 181 UN member states, Cook Islands, Niue and the State of Palestine. Both the ROC and the PRC maintain the requirement of recognizing its view of the One China policy to establish or maintain diplomatic relations.
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.
Antigua and Barbuda maintains diplomatic relations with the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the People's Republic of China, as well as with many Latin American countries and neighbouring Eastern Caribbean states. It is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of American States, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas, Petrocaribe and the Eastern Caribbean's Regional Security System (RSS).
Bilateral foreign relations exist between Austria and Israel. The fact that Adolf Hitler and other perpetrators of The Holocaust came from Austria gives the relationship between the two countries a special relevance. At the same time, the founder of Zionism, Theodor Herzl, also lived in Austria-Hungary and many Israelis are descendants of Austrian Jews. After the founding of Israel, the Second Austrian Republic recognized the Jewish state of Israel shortly after its founding in 1949, before official diplomatic relations were established in 1956. In the 1970s, Bruno Kreisky sought a role as mediator in the Middle East conflict and called for a Palestinian state, which caused disputes with the Israelis. Relations were later strained by the Waldheim affair in the 1980s and the first FPÖ government participation in 2000. After that, the two countries became close allies and established friendly relations. In 2023, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg announced “we have entered into a strategic, extremely close relationship with Israel that can no longer be undone”. Within the EU, Austria is considered one of the most pro-Israeli countries.
The 1955 Austrian State Treaty ended the four-power occupation and recognized Austria as an independent and sovereign state. In October 1955, the Federal Assembly passed a constitutional law in which "Austria declares of her own free will her perpetual neutrality." The second section of this law stated that "in all future times Austria will not join any military alliances and will not permit the establishment of any foreign military bases on her territory." Since then, Austria has shaped its foreign policy on the basis of neutrality.
Diplomatic relations exist between Australia and Germany, as well as the historical contacts, shared values of democracy and human rights, substantial commercial links, and a keen interest in each other's culture. As part of a strategic partnership concluded in 2013, both nations are also increasingly cooperating on security policy issues. Both countries also maintain diplomatic relations in each other's countries.
The Embassy of Switzerland in New Zealand is the official representation of Switzerland in New Zealand and in a number of Pacific island countries.
New Zealand and Samoa have had close relations based on a treaty of friendship between the two countries since Samoa became independent in 1962. New Zealand administered Samoa under a League of Nations mandate then a United Nations trusteeship from 1920 to 1961. Both nations are members of the Commonwealth of Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum.
The nations of Mexico and Slovakia established diplomatic relations in 1993. Relations between both nations existed beginning in 1922 when Slovakia was part of Czechoslovakia until its separation from the union in 1992.
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.
The importance of the relations between Germany and New Zealand centers on the history of German migration to New Zealand. Approximately 200,000 New Zealanders are of German descent, and many German tourists visit New Zealand each year. Both nations are members of the Australia Group, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations.
Foreign relations between Germany and Tonga began on 1 May 1976.