Group Capt. Peter Bennett, the Australian defense attaché to Samoa, along with Capt. Norman Banks and Elaine Olsen from the International Policy Division of the Department of Defense in Canberra arrived in Samoa over the weekend to participate in the annual Australian-Samoan sefense cooperation talks.
One of their first commitments was to join with the Australian High Commissioner Matt Anderson to meet with the chief executive officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Aiono Mose Pouvi Sua.
A revised memorandum of understanding was signed to reaffirm the bilateral commitments between the two countries.
The last time a similar defense document was signed was in 1988, just before the Police Patrol Boat Nafanua was gifted to Samoa by the Australian government.
The updated memorandum covers a range of Australian defense related activities in Samoa, including the continuing support to the Nafanua, the training of Samoan personnel involved in maritime surveillance in Australia and the provision of Advisors, both resident in Samoa and visiting specialists for short duration projects.
The maritime surveillance advisor to Samoa, Cmdr. Tony Powell, said it remains important for Samoa to maintaining her sovereignty of her economic zones and to assist her neighbors in doing the same.
One aspect of this is the Nafanua patrolling and coordinating with other ships and aircraft in the region.
“In the past month, Nafanua has conducted surveillance patrols against illegal fishing with New Zealand surveillance P3 aircraft, coordinated the search for the overdue fishing vessel Kathryn J, again with New Zealand P3’s and the local fishing fleet, and represented the Samoan government at the American Samoan Flag Day celebrations,” Powell said.
“With this renewed Australia’s commitment, Samoa’s capability to maintain her sovereignty can be expected to continue for many years to come.”
