Foreign relations of Tonga

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Politics of Tonga

Tonga, by a modification of its treaty of friendship with the United Kingdom in July 1970, is responsible for its own external affairs. It maintains cordial relations with most countries and has close relations with its Pacific neighbours and the United Kingdom. In 1998, it recognized the People's Republic of China and broke relations with Taiwan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Tonga maintains diplomatic relations with:

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Regional relations

Tonga maintains strong regional ties in the Pacific. It is a full member of the Pacific Islands Forum, the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission, the South Pacific Tourism Organisation, the Pacific Regional Environment Programme and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community. Tonga endorsed the Treaty of Rarotonga (the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty) in 1996.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Tonga is, however, notably not one of the eight signatories of the Nauru Agreement Concerning Cooperation in the Management of Fisheries of Common Interest which collectively controls 25–30% of the world's tuna supply and approximately 60% of the western and central Pacific tuna supply.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Since November 2011, Tonga has been one of the eight founding members of Polynesian Leaders Group, a regional grouping intended to cooperate on a variety of issues including culture and language, education, responses to climate change, and trade and investment.<ref name="scoop">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="RNZI">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Savali">Template:Cite news</ref>

Extra-regional relations

Tonga was admitted to full membership of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970, upon regaining its independence from British protection.

Since it has always had its own monarch, its position in the Commonwealth was rather unusual.

Tonga is an independent native Commonwealth monarchy like Brunei, Lesotho, Malaysia, and Swaziland.

Tonga was admitted to the United Nations in 1999.

Additionally outside the region, Tonga is a member or participant of the ACP, Asian Development Bank, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the G-77, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the International Development Association, the International Finance Corporation, International Hydrographic Organization, the IMF, the International Maritime Organization, Interpol, the International Olympic Committee, the ITU, the NAM, the UPU, the World Meteorological Organization and the World Trade Organization.

Bilateral relations

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Template:Flag 4 June 1970 See Australia–Tonga relations
Template:Flag 21 December 2011
  • Brazil is accredited to Tonga from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Tonga does not have an accreditation to Brazil.
Template:Flag 11 June 1971
  • Canada is accredited to Tonga from its High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Tonga is accredited to Canada from its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City.<ref name=UN>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flag 2 November 1998 See China–Tonga relations

The Kingdom of Tonga and the People's Republic of China (PRC) established official diplomatic relations in 1998. The two countries maintain cordial diplomatic, economic and military relations.

  • China has an embassy in Nukuʻalofa.
  • Tonga has an embassy in Beijing.
Template:Flag See Fiji–Tonga relations

These neighbouring countries in the South Pacific have a history of bilateral relations going back several centuries.

Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama received "cheers and thunderous applause" from the Tongan public when he attended a Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Tonga in October 2007; the crowd's "enthusiastic reception" of Fiji's leader was likened to "that accorded to a rock star".<ref>"Voreqe no 'leper'" Template:Webarchive, Maria Burese, Fiji Times, 17 October 2007.</ref> Radio Australia noted that he had been "the star of this year's meeting, for the people of Tonga",<ref>"TONGA: Questions over Fiji election commitment", ABC Radio Australia, 18 October 2007.</ref> while TVNZ reported that he had been "given a hero's welcome".<ref name="tvnz">Template:Cite web</ref>

In terms of inter-governmental relations, Tonga has generally avoided pressuring Fiji's "interim government" into holding democratic elections. However, Tongan Prime Minister Dr. Feleti Sevele has urged Bainimarama "to produce a credible roadmap to the election according to the Constitution and law of Fiji".<ref>"Bainimarama vows army will abide by results of 2009 election" Template:Webarchive, Fiji Times, 17 October 2007.</ref>

Template:Flag 1 May 1976
  • Germany is accredited to Tonga from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand and maintains an honorary consulate in Nukuʻalofa.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Tonga is accredited to Germany from its high commission in London, United Kingdom.
Template:Flag 1984
  • Diplomatic relations were established in 1984.<ref name="mfa.gr">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Greece is accredited to Tonga from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand.<ref name="mfa.gr"/>
  • Tonga does not have an accreditation to Greece.
Template:Flag 23 December 1970 See India–Tonga relations
  • India is accredited to Tonga from its high commission in Suva, Fiji.
  • Tonga does not have an accreditation to India.
Template:Flag July 1970
  • Japan has an embassy in Nukuʻalofa.
  • Tonga has an embassy in Tokyo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flag 28 October 2020
  • Tonga and Latvia established diplomatic relations in 2020. On 28 October 2020, Tongan and Latvian Ambassadors to the United Nations signed a joint communiqué formalising the bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction over strengthening of ties between the two countries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Both countries see opportunities for cooperation in tackling climate change, development cooperation, economics, and cooperation in various multilateral formats, especially in the light of the prospective Latvian non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council in 2026–2027.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • In October 2024, the Speaker of the Tongan Parliament Fatafehi Fakafanua expressed support for Latvia's nomination to join the United Nations Security Council in June 2025.<ref name="Latvian Parliament 24 Oct 2025">Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flag 6 September 2008
  • Mexico is accredited to Tonga from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Tonga is accredited to Mexico from its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flag 4 June 1970 See New Zealand–Tonga relations
Template:Flag 14 October 1975 See Russia–Tonga relations

The Kingdom of Tonga and the Soviet Union established formal diplomatic relations in 1976. Tonga was the first Pacific Island country to establish relations with the USSR. The USSR was dissolved in 1991 and was succeeded by Russia as the successor state.

On 2 October 2005, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Tonga ST T. Tupou exchanged telegrams offering congratulations on the occasion of 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two nations. In his heads of foreign ministries of Russia and Tonga expressed confidence in further development of Russian-Tongan relations in the interests of the peoples of both countries and strengthen peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

  • Russia is accredited to Tonga from its embassy in Canberra, Australia.
  • Tonga does not have an accreditation to Russia.
Template:Flag See Samoa–Tonga relations

Both nations are Pacific Islands countries and members of the Commonwealth of Nations and Pacific Islands Forum.

  • Samoa is accredited to Tonga from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Apia.
  • Tonga is accredited to Samoa from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nukuʻalofa.
Template:Flag 11 September 1970

The Kingdom of Tonga and the Republic of Korea have established diplomatic relations on September 11, 1970.

Template:Flag 16 November 1979
  • Spain is accredited to Tonga from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Tonga does not have an accreditation to Spain
Template:Flag 26 January 1976<ref name="auto11">Template:Cite web</ref> See Tonga–Turkey relations
  • Turkish ambassador in Wellington to New Zealand is also accredited to Tonga.<ref name="auto11"/>
  • Trade volume between the two countries was negligible in 2019.<ref name="auto11"/>
Template:Flag 4 June 1970 See Tonga–United Kingdom relations

Tonga established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 4 June 1970.<ref name="britain" />

The UK governed Tonga from 1900 until 1970, when Tonga achieved full independence.

Both countries share common membership of the Commonwealth, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have an Investment Agreement.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|title=Tonga - United Kingdom BIT (1997)|url=https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/international-investment-agreements/treaties/bit/3031/tonga---united-kingdom-bit-1997-%7Cwebsite=UN Trade and Development|access-date=23 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501193755/https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/international-investment-agreements/treaties/bit/3031/tonga---united-kingdom-bit-1997-%7Carchive-date=1 May 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

Template:Flag 4 October 1972 See Tonga–United States relations

The United States and Tonga enjoy close cooperation on a range of international issues. Officers of the American Embassy in Suva, Fiji, are concurrently accredited to Tonga and make periodic visits since the United States has no permanent consular or diplomatic offices in Tonga. Although plans for a US consulate in Tonga were announced in 2008,<ref>"US to open consulate in Tonga", ABC Radio Australia, 16 May 2008.</ref><ref>"US consular office for Tonga" Template:Webarchive, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, 9 February 2009.</ref> it has yet to be established.<ref>"U.S. Relations With Tonga", U.S. Department of State, 29 August 2014.</ref> In May 2023, the United States announced plans to establish an embassy in Tonga, as part of a larger regional push to strengthen ties with the Pacific.<ref name="embassy">Template:Cite web</ref>

Peace Corps Volunteers teach and provide technical assistance to Tongans. A large number of Tongans reside in the United States, particularly in Utah, California and Hawaii.<ref name="US Department of State">Template:Cite web</ref>

Commonwealth of Nations

Tonga has been a member of the Commonwealth of Nations since 4 June 1970.

Tonga was a British protected monarchy from 1900 to 1970, when it became an independent native monarchy within the Commonwealth of Nations, a status shared by Brunei, Lesotho, Malaysia, and Eswatini, which also have their own native monarchs.

Current foreign policy

Tonga's foreign policy as of January 2009 has been described by Matangi Tonga as "Look East" – namely, as establishing closer diplomatic and economic relations with Asia (which actually lies to the north-west of the Pacific kingdom). Tonga retains cordial relations with the United States. Although it remains on good terms with the United Kingdom, the two countries do not maintain particularly close relations, and the United Kingdom closed its High Commission in Tonga in 2006. Tonga's relations with Oceania's regional powers, Australia and New Zealand, are very good.

International disputes

In 1972, Tonga laid claim to, and invaded, the tide-washed, isolated Minerva Reefs, some 480 kilometres southwest of Nuku'olofa, to thwart efforts by a private group, Ocean Life Research Foundation, to establish an independent Republic of Minerva (now the Principality of Minerva) on the reefs and surrounding quays. In November 2005, Fiji laid a complaint with the International Seabed Authority claiming ownership of the reefs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

References

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Template:Foreign relations of the Commonwealth of Nations Template:Foreign relations of Tonga Template:Pacific Islands Forum Template:Foreign relations of Oceania

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