Samoa has become the 100th nation to partner with the U.S. state of Nevada when they signed on to the Nevada National Guard–State Partnership Program.

Held at the Vailima residence of the American Ambassador, Minister for Police, Faualo Harry Schuster and the Adjutant General for the Nevada National Guard, Major General Ondra Berry put pen to paper to make the partnership an official one.

Faualo said the partnership would greatly help the Samoa Police Force in building capacity and help Samoa respond better to climate change and natural disasters which were occurring at a much higher frequency than before.

Maj. Gen. Berry said they were very focused on the Nevada National Guard and Samoa partnership and the potential it has for the two nations.

“We are committed to learning your culture, your communities and those areas where there can be mutual engagement. We're very committed to that," he said. And we have a lot to learn but we'd love to learn and we will be diligent and seek first to understand our newest partner.

“This is going to be more than just a military engagement, but also to include a civilian engagement and a whole State of Nevada. We value the work with our international leaders and your commitment to making even a greater Samoa and we will be your long-term, consistent friends. 

"And we have learned from the short time being here in the country, that family matters, and that family comes first. The partnership signifies a new era of collaboration and cooperation and will provide a greater future for both Samoa and the United States.”

The partnership will include working with the Samoa Police Force and the country's National Disaster Management Office.

Minister for Natural Resources and Environment, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster said the partnership would allow the National Disaster Management Office to carry out their work efficiently.

“We look forward to being empowered and strengthened, as you know, we have the plans but we lack the resources and technology,” he said. “The partnership is a good opportunity to learn from you and for us to teach you our resilience which is based on 3000 years of traditional knowledge.”

Police Commissioner, Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo mirrored the comments by his line minister and said that Samoa Police was really looking forward to building the capacity provided by the partnership.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo’s Chief of Staff Ben Kieckhefer read out a message from him thanking Samoa.

“The governor has signed the proclamation recognising today I'm not going to read it all. But I will say that whereas the state of Nevada looks to build a relationship with the Independent State of Samoa that takes a strategic initiative and whole-of-government approach to mutually benefit the island nation not just militarily but also through state-led bilateral engagements,” he said.

“Now therefore, I, Joe Lombardo Governor of the state of Nevada, do hereby proclaim July 6 2023, as a day of memorialising the Nevada National Guard state partnership program with the Independent State of Samoa.”