From October 26th to 29th 2026, General Gabriel Soubrier, Commander-in-Chief of the French Armed Forces in New Caledonia (FANC), visited Samoa on an official trip, being the first Commander in Chief to visit Samoa in 8 years. His delegation was welcomed by the French Ambassador to Samoa, HE Guillaume Lemoine.
General Soubrier had first a courtesy call with Hon. Prime Minister La’auliLeuatea Schmidt.
They discussed issues of common interests, such as maritime security, consequences of climate change humanitarian assistance and drug trafficking. The Prime minister told his appreciation of France’s support in protecting and securing the Pacific. He emphasized on his willingness to deepen the ties with French Polynesian territories, and in particular Wallis and Futuna where he wants to travel soon. Prime Minister La’auli Schmidt and General Soubrier highlighted the shared destiny binding Samoa, the French Pacific territories and neighbouring island countries, driving them to work closely together.
This visit provided also the opportunity to meet with the Samoan Police.
With the Acting Police Commissioner, Lei’ataua Samuelu Afamasaga, the discussion focused on the absolute necessity of being united to fight drug trafficking. He emphasized the seriousness of the issue in Fiji and his determination to prevent a similar situation from occurring in Samoa. Acting Commissioner thanked the General for hosting many trainings for Samoan Police officers in Nouméa, valuing their quality. Since 2026, around twenty police officers had already been able to benefit from these training courses, including some in French Polynesia.
Superintendent Tai Tapu, in charge of Samoa’s Maritime Police confirmed the importance of maritime surveillance in the fight of drug trafficking. In this regard, regular stopovers by French Navy vessels were useful and highly appreciated.
During these meetings, General Soubrier discussed also regional security issues and explored future cooperation initiatives between Samoa and the French armed forces.
The delegation also paid a visit to the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre (PTCCC), an Apia-based body of the Pacific Transnational Crime Network. They received a presentation from Australian Police Force Detective Sergeant Adam Moore, Advisor of the PTCCC, on their assessment of the situation in the region regarding transnational crimes. The interactions with their French counterparts were of very high quality. PTCCC Advisor highlighted the importance of the presence of French facilities and assets in the region.
Finally, a meeting with several officials from the disaster management office (DMO), under the leadership of A/CEO Molly Nielsen, allowed the delegation to gain a better understanding of the emergency response organization in Samoa and to explore the possibility of participating in the Croix du Sud exercise, a regional event scheduled in May 2027 on Human Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to allow all stakeholders in the field within the region to improve collaboration and response.
The visit by the Commander of the French Armed Forces in New Caledonia is part of France’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with its partners in the Pacific, promoting regional cooperation, and contributing to the security and stability of the Pacific region.
The Samoan Acting Police Commissioner, together with the Attorney General of Samoa and the CEO of Customs, are currently attending a regional seminar on drug trafficking at sea in the Pacific organized by the High Commissioner of the French Republic in New Caledonia, which is being held in Nouméa.
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