“Country that dropped "Western" from its name in 1997” crossword clue

Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.SAMOA is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “Country that dropped "Western" from its name in 1997”. It was last seen in the puzzle of September 23, 2025, where it runs at 2 Down and fills 5 squares. It crosses 5 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have.