Foreign relations of Samoa
Constitution |
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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]
Diplomatic relations
[edit]List of countries which Samoa maintains diplomatic relations with:
# | Country | Date[2] |
---|---|---|
1 | 1 January 1962 | |
2 | June 1970 | |
3 | September 1970 | |
4 | 31 March 1971 | |
5 | 11 June 1971 | |
6 | 14 July 1971[3] | |
7 | 18 May 1972 | |
8 | 30 May 1972 | |
9 | 15 September 1972 | |
10 | 27 March 1973 | |
11 | May 1973 | |
12 | September 1974 | |
13 | 10 November 1974 | |
14 | 6 November 1975 | |
15 | 15 November 1975 | |
16 | 13 April 1976 | |
17 | 2 July 1976 | |
18 | 1 June 1977[4] | |
19 | 1977 | |
20 | 17 July 1978[5] | |
21 | 24 August 1978 | |
22 | 8 September 1978 | |
23 | 12 April 1979 | |
24 | 27 August 1979 | |
25 | 1979[6] | |
26 | 17 March 1980 | |
27 | 30 June 1980 | |
28 | 5 November 1980 | |
29 | 3 April 1981 | |
30 | 1 August 1981 | |
31 | August 1982 | |
32 | 7 March 1983 | |
33 | 21 December 1983 | |
34 | 1 January 1984 | |
35 | 23 January 1984 | |
36 | 25 May 1987 | |
37 | 1 December 1987 | |
38 | 1988[7] | |
39 | 19 April 1990 | |
40 | 3 September 1990 | |
41 | 22 October 1990 | |
42 | 18 December 1992 | |
43 | 18 May 1993 | |
44 | 2 August 1993 | |
45 | 8 March 1994 | |
46 | 29 March 1994 | |
— | 10 June 1994 | |
47 | 14 February 1995[8] | |
48 | 22 March 1995 | |
49 | 9 June 1995 | |
50 | 12 December 1995 | |
51 | 25 November 1996 | |
52 | 11 August 1999 | |
53 | 1999 | |
54 | 16 March 2000 | |
55 | 24 March 2000 | |
56 | 26 June 2000 | |
57 | 29 August 2000 | |
58 | 22 July 2004 | |
59 | 27 July 2004 | |
60 | 15 October 2004 | |
61 | 1 February 2005 | |
62 | 18 August 2005 | |
63 | 8 February 2006 | |
64 | 2 March 2006 | |
65 | 20 September 2007 | |
66 | 11 October 2007 | |
67 | 1 August 2008 | |
68 | 21 October 2008 | |
69 | 23 January 2009 | |
70 | 19 February 2009 | |
71 | 13 March 2009 | |
72 | 2 June 2009 | |
73 | 12 March 2010 | |
74 | 18 March 2010 | |
75 | 4 May 2010 | |
76 | 11 May 2010 | |
77 | 18 May 2010 | |
78 | 28 January 2011 | |
79 | 28 January 2011 | |
80 | 28 January 2011 | |
81 | 9 March 2011 | |
82 | 7 September 2011 | |
83 | 20 December 2011 | |
84 | 21 December 2011 | |
85 | 14 June 2012 | |
86 | 28 June 2012 | |
87 | 16 November 2012 | |
88 | 7 February 2013 | |
89 | 8 March 2013[9] | |
90 | 28 March 2013 | |
91 | 21 May 2013[10] | |
— | 30 August 2013[11] | |
92 | 23 September 2013[10] | |
— | 10 March 2017[12] | |
93 | 22 December 2017[10] | |
94 | 19 January 2018[10] | |
95 | 17 April 2018[13] | |
96 | 28 February 2019[14] | |
97 | 20 December 2019[10] | |
98 | 23 September 2021[15] | |
99 | 26 April 2022[16] | |
100 | 27 April 2023[10] | |
101 | 8 May 2023[10] | |
102 | 9 May 2023[10] | |
103 | 14 December 2023[17] | |
104 | 23 May 2024[10] | |
105 | Established, date unknown[18] | |
106 | Established, date unknown[19] |
Bilateral relations
[edit]Country | Notes |
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| |
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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. | |
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.[25][26]
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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.
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See India–Samoa relations
| |
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.[27] Japan opened an embassy in Apia on 1 January 2013.[28]
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In September 2008, Samoa became the 46th country to officially recognise the independence of Kosovo.[29] | |
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. | |
The Independent State of Samoa and the Republic of Korea have established diplomatic relations on 15 September 1972.
| |
See Samoa–Tonga relations
Both nations are Pacific Islands countries and members of the Commonwealth of Nations and Pacific Islands Forum.
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See Samoa–Turkey relations
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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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Samoa and the Commonwealth of Nations
[edit]Western Samoa joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970.[38]
Regional integration
[edit]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.[39]
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.[40][41][42]
See also
[edit]- List of diplomatic missions in Samoa
- List of diplomatic missions of Samoa
- Samoan passport
- Visa policy of Samoa
- Visa requirements for Samoan citizens
- Kaimiloa, a ship of the Kingdom of Hawaii that attempted to establish relations between Hawaii and Samoa.
References
[edit]- ^ "Samoa adds two diplomatic missions in Asia". Radio New Zealand International. 13 January 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "All Countries". Office of the Historian. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "The Republic of the Philippines and Samoa celebrate 44 years of formal diplomatic relations today, June 1!". 1 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- ^ Report for the Year ... Solomon Islands. 1981. p. 21. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
- ^ The Europa year book : a world survey. 1979. Vol. 2. Europa Publications Limited. 1979. p. 1770.
- ^ 条約集: 二国間条約. 外務省条約局. 1988.
Sopoaga Taafaki Tuvalu's Ambassador to the Republic of Fiji and High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea and Western Samoa...
- ^ "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)
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Diplomatic relations between Samoa and ..." United Nations Digital Library. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- ^ "Foreign Affairs & Trade Bulletin" (PDF). p. 2. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- ^ Kosovo and Samoa establish diplomatic relations, KosovaPress, 2017-03-10
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF SAMOA AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC" (in Spanish). 24 September 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
- ^ "JAMAICA AND THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF SAMOA ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS". 29 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "His Majesty's Government reaches out to neighbouring Samoas". 7 October 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ a b c Honorary consulates of Samoa
- ^ High Commission of Australia in Samoa
- ^ Consulate-General of Samoa in Sydney
- ^ High Commission of Canada in New Zealand
- ^ a b Samoan Permanent Mission to the United Nations
- ^ "Cuban Foreign Minister Opens Cuba-Pacific Islands Meeting", Cuban News Agency, 16 September 2008
- ^ "Pacific and Cuba meet to discuss co-operation". Radio New Zealand International. 17 September 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Japan
- ^ Embassy of Japan in New Zealand web site
- ^ "Samoa recognises Kosovo independence: Pristina", Agence France-Presse, 16 September 2008
- ^ Embassy of Mexico in New Zealand (in English and Spanish)
- ^ Overseas Honorary Consuls in Samoa
- ^ "New Zealand High Commission in Samoa". Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ Samoan High Commission in New Zealand
- ^ "Search | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea".
- ^ "Relations between Turkey and Samoa". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
- ^ Samoan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- ^ US Embassy in Samoa
- ^ "Samoa". 15 August 2013.
- ^ McLean, Tamara (29 June 2011). "Samoa's dateline jump passes into law". Herald Sun. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "New Polynesian Leaders Group formed in Samoa". Radio New Zealand. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
- ^ "American Samoa joins Polynesian Leaders Group, MOU signed". Samoa News. Savalii. 20 November 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2020.