Honorable Members of the Cabinet
• Chaplain Richard Lander of the New Zealand Defence Force
• US Charge’ D’ Affaires Ms Noriko Horiuchi
• From the US Navy, Commander Michael Winslow, Commanding Officer of the USS
JACKSON
• Captain Joe Dransfield, Deputy Commander Pacific Partnership – From the UK
• Members of the Diplomatic Corps
• Distinguished guests
• Ladies and Gentlemen

Talofa lava, it is a pleasure for me to join you this evening as we come together as partners
under the Pacific Partnership 2023 programme.
I understand that the visit by the US led mission, via the USS Jackson to our shores, is part of an
annual deployment of services from the United States Navy Pacific Fleet. The US Mission has
been ably joined by the NZ Defence Force and the Royal Navy partners, as they join arms for
deeper engagement with Pacific members like Samoa to address complex threats in the region,
including transnational crime and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, peace and
prosperity, security in its broadest sense and in particular, the climate crisis which Samoa
continues to grapple with.
I am pleased to note that the Pacific Partnership has enabled countries in the region, namely
Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa to join hands and actively engage with key actors
from humanitarian and disaster relief agencies to enhance collaboration and work together to
strengthen disaster response capabilities and climate resilience, humanitarian and civic
preparedness.
At this juncture, we acknowledge the support of the US as a key Forum Dialogue partner and
look forward to continuing to actively engage as partners in the Blue Pacific Continent to address
Pacific priorities under the principles of Pacific Regionalism and in line with the Pacific 2050
Strategy.
Samoa looks forward to range of humanitarian outreach activities provided through the
Partnership, whether it be in the element of engineering, health security, music and sports or

disaster response and preparedness – in whatever field, but no doubt through shared
responsibility to be part of this on-going important partnership and recognize also all other
similar avenues to ensure that we engage actively to enhance our relations and ensure that the
Partnership grows from strength to strength, that it is genuine, able to endure the challenges, and
that we follow a common framework based on mutual interests and shared common priorities.
Before I conclude, I wish to thank the US Charge’ D’Affaires Ms. Noriko Horiuchi for hosting
this reception which provides a good opportunity to relax and mingle amongst colleagues and
partners.
Please raise your glasses, as we toast to the 2023 Pacific Partnership.
As partners in this undertaking, may we continue to work together for mutual benefits and a
shared common future over the years to come

Ia manuia!

Soifua