19/05/2026
【Messages from Ambassador Suzuki: What is FOIP?】
Today, Japan, like Samoa, is a nation that cherishes peace above all else and deeply values its national independence. However, in today's international community, no nation can maintain its existence and prosperity by itself. Even here in Samoa, what is happening far away in Iran is affecting people's lives through rising fuel costs. Japan, an island nation just like Samoa, also heavily relies on its connections with overseas countries across the seas for much of its prosperity.
In particular, the peace and stability of nations in the "Pacific" region, where both Japan and Samoa are located, and in the "Indian Ocean" region, which stretches beyond the Strait of Malacca and Australia to the distant Middle East and Africa, hold significant meaning for Japan and, naturally, for the people of these regions. Especially now, as unilateral attempts by some major powers to change the status quo by force have become apparent, and the international order based on the rule of law is wavering, regional nations are obliged to be more resilient and have freedom to decide for oneself, while also deepening their connectivity with one another.
Although not widely known here in Samoa, a key concept that serves as one of the guiding principles for Japan's diplomacy today is the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific," abbreviated as FOIP. This concept was first presented in a speech delivered by then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Kenya ten years ago. Ten years after this initiative, this vision resonated with many countries and has become widely supported by like-minded countries.
While the international situation has changed over these ten years, recently, on May 2nd, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivered a speech in Hanoi, Vietnam, outlining the "evolution" of this concept. In that speech, she emphasized that Japan, based on this vision, will promote concrete initiatives to help all countries to be “resilient and prosperous together," and that it is crucial for each nation in the region to be capable of making its decisions on its own as an independent country and "resilient" against external shocks, even while deepening their connectivity with one another.
Japan is working on various problems with a global perspective, together with a wide range of friendly Indo-Pacific nations. Already in various countries across the Pacific region, initiatives to concretely advance this evolved FOIP vision are also gaining momentum. Also here in Samoa, efforts to promote FOIP are beginning to take shape.
