On this page:

• Military Capability
• Military Co-Operation with Australia

Military Capability

Samoa – Whilst Samoa has no standing military, it has a Statement of Partnership with New Zealand which includes a security agreement as well as a Statement of Friendship dating back to 1962 after Samoa’s independence.

For further information on the Samoan security, see the resources below:

• Articles
  1. New Zealand Samoa Statement of Partnership
  2. The Guardian - Samoa’s PM says China’s expectation of Pacific-wide deal ‘something we could not agree to’

American Samoa – American Samoa has the highest rate of military enlistment out of all the U.S. states and territories due to a strong warrior culture and high poverty rate. An Army career provides significantly higher rates of pay than other careers in American Samoa. It is home to five Army Reserve detachments: Bravo Company, from 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry; 411th Forward Support Company (Engineer); USAR Theatre Support Group Detachment America Samoa; 1st Evacuation/Mortuary Platoon from 962nd Quartermaster Company; and the 127th Chaplain Detachment.

The American Samoa government has been in discussions with the U.S. Military to consider stationing large numbers of U.S. troops in American Samoa in order to curb the rising influence of China in the region.

For further information on the American Samoan military, see the resources below:

• Articles
  1. American Samoan military at a glance
  2. US Army – US Army Reserve unit relocates across the pacific
  3. The Diplomat - American Pacific Islanders Deserve Protection – In the Pacific

Military Co-Operation with Australia

Samoa – Australia and Samoa security partnerships include the Defence Co-operation Program, the Pacific Maritime Security Program and the Samoa-Australia Police Partnership. The police agreement signed in 2009, involves the provision of AFP advisors and law enforcement officers as well as costs associated with securing the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre. Australia also gifted Samoa a Guardian Class Patrol Boat in support of maritime security.

For further information on the Samoan military co-operation with Australia, see the resources below:

• Articles
  1. DFAT -Increasing our engagement with Samoa
  2. Australian Samoan policing partnership
  3. ABC News - Samoan prime minister says she understands Australia's push to obtain nuclear-powered submarines at Lowy Institute
  4. Prime minister of Australia Joint Statement – Media Release of 22nd March 2023

American Samoa – American Samoa is a member of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and as a US territory, shares military cooperation with Australia.