One of the Pacific's most senior leaders says her country "understands" the rationale behind Australia's push to obtain nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS pact with the United States and United Kingdom.
Samoa's Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa made the comment at a Lowy Institute lecture on Monday night, where she also revealed she'd been briefed about the plan by Australian security agencies while visiting Canberra this week.
