Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula says the time for the United States to invest in making American Samoa future ready is now.

In a statement about the missile test launch by China into the South Pacific on July 6, the Governor said, “…this demonstration of advanced capabilities and power projection into our shared waters highlights the shifting security environment in the Indo-Pacific and its direct implications for the people of American Samoa and our Pacific neighbors”.

The Governor emphasized that American Samoa remains the United States’ only territory and outpost in the South Pacific and Southern Hemisphere.

“For 126 years, we have been an integral part of the United States. There is no more logical or effective location for America to demonstrate credible power, presence, and partnership in this part of the world than right here,” he stated.

The Governor pointed out that the territory’s advocacy, alongside Congresswoman Amata Coleman Radewagen, has consistently identified the core challenges facing our region.

These concerns have only grown more urgent. They include”
1. Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing by foreign fleets, including those operating from China.
2. Narco-terrorism and transnational criminal networks that traverse the South Pacific
3. The race for critical minerals and rare earth elements, where China is aggressively positioning itself to dominate global supply chains.
4. This latest show of defiance and power projection into the South Pacific, which underscores the need for a sustained, visible American posture to promote stability and deter adventurism.

“These realities make one conclusion inescapable: the time for the United States to invest in making American Samoa future-ready is now”, stated the Governor.

He continued, “Our long-neglected infrastructure, ports, airports, energy systems, telecommunications, and maritime facilities, represents a strategic liability, not only for American Samoa but for the United States. In an era of great-power competition, and with the possibility of escalation over Taiwan or other flashpoints, this liability must be addressed proactively. Smart, targeted federal investments through the Department of the Interior, Department of Transportation, Department of War, Department of Homeland Security, and other partners can convert this liability into a strategic asset. Dual-use infrastructure improvements will position American Samoa as a capable forward-operating hub, providing logistics, presence, rapid response, and support across the South Pacific”.

The Governor concluded, “If calmer heads prevail and no conflict materializes, these same investments will deliver enduring returns: reinforcing U.S. influence under the American flag, advancing economic opportunity for our people, and demonstrating that the United States stands firmly with its Pacific family.