Samoa plans for the impact of US-Iran war

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 18 March 2026: The impact of the continuing war between America, Israel and Iran is already affecting petroleum prices close to Samoa and the wider impact on the small island economies could be devastating.

Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt – in no uncertain terms – said the impact on Samoa in fuel prices and imported goods will be affected.

But he said the government has already consulted with the petroleum importer that is already preparing for the worst as the war escalates. Samoa’s petroleum imports are under a special contract with a single supplier that has maintained competitive prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene with prices decreasing in February and March before the war started.

“We have our own system for importing our petroleum supplies, but we know future petroleum prices will be affected,” the Prime Minister said.

It is an issue Samoa and New Zealand’s Prime Minister discussed in Apia during the latter’s official visit last week.

“We asked for assistance in terms of supplies anticipating the impact of the war because and the potential of increase in prices we cannot control for at least 1 or 2 years,” said Laauli.

He said Samoa has enough supply at this stage but is grateful for the discussion he had with his New Zealand counterpart, Tui-Sinave-Ma-Ulumotootua Christopher Luxon over the issue.

He said Samoa’s fuel supplies are diverted from Singapore and other countries but have yet to utilise supplies from New Zealand.

Laauli is confident after discussions with Luxon where they touched upon close collaborations between the two countries in resolving any issues threatening the two countries and the Pacific region as soon as they arise.

Both leaders want to see a quick end to the conflict and New Zealand is also preparing to ensure the security of its fuel supplies.

The two leaders also discussed the impact of geo-politics on small independent nations under the influence of superpowers as what is happening with the current war in the Middle East.

Both agreed that standing together as sovereign nations under the Pacific Islands Forum is critical and both leaders agreed that sharing intelligence, information and resources with each other is the key to collaboration and providing practical assistance.