Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Samoa media is pointing out that the formal bilateral discussions between Samoa and American Samoa dubbed Atoa o Samoa  — were expected to be held in the third week of October, following an agreement between Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula and Samoa Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt in July.

However, the agreed week has passed without the meeting taking place. 

The Samoa Observer reported that in an August interview in American Samoa, Pulaali‘i said he had asked Laaulialemalietoa to slow down the talks because he was uncertain about their purpose and effectiveness. 

Previously they both had agreed the next Atoa-O-Samoa meeting would be held on the third week of October, 2026 in Samoa. Governor Pulaalii emphasized the situation of drugs which has affected both American Samoa and Samoa and the need for both Governments to work together to resolve this issue. The Governor also touched base on travel, technology and trade.

The Observer reported that in August Governor Pulaali‘i asked whether the Atoa o Samoa talks were a “waste of time”,  citing concerns about meetings where gifts and money were exchanged but little was resolved. Two months later, the latest round of talks has failed to take place as scheduled.

The American Samoa Committee for the Atoa-O-Samoa, appointed by the Governor, evaluated, selected, and organized the key topics that were to have been discussed during the Two Samoa Talks.

“I wasn’t sure in terms of what the issues are, and also from what I heard often even before I was elected, these things in the eyes of many others is a waste of time, because they have these meetings,”  Pulaali‘i said.

The Governor also raised concerns about meetings involving exchanges of gifts and money without resolving substantive issues.

He said both governments had discussed narrowing the agenda to matters they could realistically address.

The proposed agenda included drug-related concerns, travel, technology and trade.

“So we are going to move forward and I look forward to those meetings with Samoa,” he said.

The Samoa Government provided no public updates ahead of the previously scheduled meeting.

The Samoa Observer contacted the Office of the Governor and the Office of the Prime Minister through email, to establish whether the talks had been postponed or delayed.

The Observer reported that neither office had responded at the time of their publication.