Samoa
Speaking at a high-level event on 26 September 2025 to mark the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, the Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa, Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo, said: ‘Samoa proudly stands as a State Party to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons [TPNW]. We urge all States not yet party to the Treaty to join this instrument, to reject these weapons once and for all.’1
TPNW Status
| Key weapons of mass destruction treaties | ||
|---|---|---|
| NUCLEAR WEAPONS | ||
| Party to the TPNW | Yes (Ratified 2018) | |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Acceded 1975) | |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 2002) | |
| Party to an NWFZ | Yes (Ratified 1985, Rarotonga) | |
| CSA with the IAEA | Yes (In force 1979) | |
| AP with the IAEA | No | |
| BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS | ||
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Acceded 2017) | |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 2002) | |
| TPNW Art. 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compliant |
| Possess or stockpile | Compliant | |
| Test | Compliant | |
| (b) | Transfer | Compliant |
| (c) | Receive transfer or control | Compliant |
| (d) | Use | Compliant |
| Threaten to use | Compliant | |
| (e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Compliant |
| (f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compliant |
| (g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compliant |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| UNGA resolution on TPNW (latest vote) | Voted yes (2025) |
| Participated in 3MSP (2025) | Yes |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | Yes |
| Participated in 1MSP (2022) | Yes |
| Average MSP delegation size (% women) | 3.33 (28.%) |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | Voted yes |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations (2017) | Yes |
| Negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Did not vote |
| Fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Nuclear facilities | No |
| Fissile material production | No |
| HEU stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
| SQP with the IAEA | Yes (Original) |
Latest developments
Samoa participated in the Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in March 2025 but did not make a statement.
At the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Preparatory Committee meeting in April 2025, the States Parties to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, including Samoa, reaffirmed their commitment to a nuclear-weapon-free world. ‘As a region devastatingly affected by nuclear testing, the slow pace of nuclear disarmament is a significant concern,’ they said.2
At a high-level event on 26 September 2025 marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, the Pacific Islands Forum, of which Samoa is a member State, noted the ‘significant contribution’ of the 1985 South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament and to ‘inspiring other nuclear-weapon-free zones around the world’.3
Samoa promoted adherence to the TPNW as part of the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review in 2025.
Recommendations
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Samoa should continue to encourage other states to adhere to the TPNW.
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Samoa should ensure that all the TPNW obligations are implemented domestically, through legal, administrative and other necessary measures.
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Samoa should conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol (AP) with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and upgrade to a modified Small Quantities Protocol (SQP).