On 13 May 1997, in Wellington, Niuean Premier Frank Lui and US ambassador Josiah Beeman sign the Treaty on the delimitation of a maritime boundary between the United States and Niue.

The text fixes the maritime boundary between Niue and American Samoa: 279 nautical miles long, roughly east–west, 18 straight-line segments defined by 19 coordinate points.

Authentic language: English. Depositary: the UN Secretariat. President Bill Clinton transmitted the treaty to the US Senate for ratification on 23 June 1998.

The delimitation clarifies exclusive economic zones in the South Pacific amid interest in marine resources and Niue’s special status (associated with New Zealand).

Full name: Treaty between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Niue on the delimitation of a maritime boundary.

The text appears in US presidential papers and UN maritime-boundary treaty collections.

The Niue–US Treaty of 13 May 1997 remains the act that drew the maritime boundary with American Samoa.

Image: Wellington / Pacific; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Niue–United States Maritime Boundary Treaty. Treaty text: Niue–US Maritime Boundary Treaty (US GovInfo).