The American-led Pacific Partnership 2023 will enable participants to work together to enhance disaster response capabilities and foster new and enduring friendships in Samoa.

According to a media release issued by the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet on Thursday, in collaboration with Samoa, the Pacific Partnership’s mission is to conduct tailored humanitarian and civic preparedness activities in areas such as engineering, disaster response, public health, and Samoan outreach events.

Now in its 18th year, the Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific.

Royal Navy Captain Joe Dransfield, deputy mission commander, said this year's mission will involve close to 1,500 personnel. 

"It is a joint effort on behalf of Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States,” said Royal Navy Captain. “Here in Samoa, the New Zealand Defense Force and Royal Navy partners will join the U.S.-led stop.”

While in Apia, PP23 provided tailored medical care focusing on subject-matter exchanges and community education; constructing and reconstruction of critical infrastructures and knowledge exchanges with exercises covering disaster response and humanitarian assistance. Additionally, the U.S. Pacific Fleet woodwind ensemble will perform in a variety of community engagements.

The chargé d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Samoa, Noriko Horiuchi, expressed elation at being part of the Pacific Partnership 2023.

"The great outreach and connections between the U.S. and Samoa over the next few days will continue to enhance our great relationship. As well as the crew of the USS Jackson, PP23 will bring musicians, a veterinarian, medical personnel, engineers scoping future projects, and a team of Humanitarian and Disaster Relief experts.”

The USS Jackson and its crew, while anchored in Apia, also hosted a reception onboard on Friday evening and hosted Cabinet Ministers from the Samoa Government as well as Diplomatic Corps and local friends and counterparts in the Pacific Partnership 2023.

As part of PP23, the mission team will conduct missions throughout Southeast Asia and the South Pacific Islands.