Samoa’s prime minister condemned major powers “bullying” on Monday, a thinly-veiled swipe at the United States and China as he hosted New Zealand’s leader for a rare state visit to the Pacific nation.
New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon’s trip is the first to Samoa by a leader since La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt took office last year.
Luxon has framed his trip as part of a push to deepen economic and security ties in the Pacific.
Both the United States and China have been vying for influence in the strategic region, with both nations seeking to secure lucrative deals for resources and minerals that can be mined from the sea floor.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting which included Luxon, Schmidt said “you see the change nowadays in the world, big country’s bullying””.
“Start to change things dynamically, tariffs, pushing things, petroleum, taking over, all of that,” he said.
“Samoa’s focus is to ensure we look after ourselves, by ourselves, and controlling ourselves.”
Luxon reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to Samoa and stated the two countries were “not friends, we are family”.
At a lavish ceremony in the capital of Apia, Luxon was granted a chiefly title of Tuisinavemaulumoto’otua.
Samoa has been pushing for free movement of its people to New Zealand.
Luxon in turn has said New Zealand would further review immigration settings for its Pacific partner.
