Samoa and American Samoa are a group of islands located in the southern Pacific Ocean. The population of Samoa is 220,400 while American Samoa has 43,600 people (2024). The 1899 Tripartite Treaty gave control of western Samoa (Samoa) to the Germans and eastern Samoa (American Samoa) to the Americans. After World War I, the League of Nations awarded German Samoa to New Zealand until 1962 when Samoa gained independence. Apia is the capital and only city of Samoa located on the central north coast of Upolu. The capital of American Samoa is Pago Pago on the island Tutuila. Samoa is a parliamentary democracy with a constitution influenced by traditions and culture. American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the USA and has an elected governor and Lieutenant-Governor under legislature. Samoa's economy is reliant on tourism, agriculture, remittances, and development assistance from other nations. American Samoa's economy relies mainly on the military for employment and the tuna industry.
Whilst Samoa has no standing military, it has a long-standing security partnership with New Zealand. Australia and Samoa also have security partnerships which include the Defence Cooperation Program, the Pacific Maritime Security Program and the Samoa-Australia Police Partnership. American Samoa is a member of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and, as a US territory, has long standing military ties with Australia.