Constitution |
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Administrative divisions |
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. [1]
List of countries which Tonga maintains diplomatic relations with:
# | Country | Date [2] |
---|---|---|
1 | Kiribati | No date given |
2 | Tuvalu | No date given |
3 | Nauru | No date given [3] |
4 | Samoa | No date given [4] |
5 | New Zealand | 4 June 1970 [5] |
6 | United Kingdom | 4 June 1970 [6] |
7 | Japan | July 1970 [7] |
8 | South Korea | 11 September 1970 [8] |
9 | Australia | 3 December 1970 [9] |
10 | India | 23 December 1970 [10] |
11 | Canada | 11 June 1971 [11] |
12 | France | 16 July 1971 [12] |
13 | Belgium | 16 August 1971 [13] |
14 | United States | 6 November 1972 [14] |
15 | Sweden | 21 January 1974 [15] |
16 | Russia | 2 October 1975 [16] |
17 | Netherlands | 4 November 1975 [17] |
18 | Turkey | 26 January 1976 [18] |
19 | Luxembourg | 1 November 1976 [19] |
20 | Israel | June 1977 [20] |
21 | Germany | 2 January 1978 [21] |
22 | Libya | 16 March 1978 [22] |
23 | Chile | 1 October 1979 [23] |
24 | Spain | 16 November 1979 [24] |
25 | Solomon Islands | 7 July 1980 [25] |
26 | Vanuatu | 7 July 1980 [26] |
27 | Fiji | 1980 [27] |
28 | Philippines | 1 July 1981 [28] |
29 | Italy | 26 November 1981 [29] |
30 | Papua New Guinea | August 1982 [30] |
31 | Malaysia | 9 September 1982 [31] |
32 | Sri Lanka | 10 January 1984 [32] |
33 | Peru | 20 January 1984 [33] |
34 | Greece | 5 July 1985 [34] |
35 | Switzerland | 13 September 1985 [34] |
36 | Denmark | 1985 [35] |
37 | Norway | 30 August 1988 [36] |
38 | Federated States of Micronesia | 1 August 1989 [37] |
39 | Maldives | 1 August 1989 [38] |
40 | Brunei | 1 May 1990 [39] |
41 | Pakistan | Before 1992 [40] |
42 | Singapore | 6 August 1993 [41] |
43 | Finland | 1 December 1993 [42] |
44 | Thailand | 27 January 1994 [43] |
45 | Indonesia | 30 May 1994 [44] |
– | Holy See | 24 August 1994 [45] |
46 | Morocco | 16 January 1995 [46] |
47 | Slovenia | 7 December 1995 [47] |
48 | China | 2 November 1998 [48] |
49 | South Africa | 1 September 1999 [49] |
50 | Mongolia | 4 April 2001 |
51 | Seychelles | 12 July 2002 |
52 | Cuba | 15 July 2002 [50] |
53 | East Timor | 26 November 2002 |
54 | Eswatini | 22 May 2003 |
55 | Austria | 2004 [51] [52] |
56 | Malta | 3 May 2007 |
57 | Venezuela | 9 May 2007 [53] |
58 | United Arab Emirates | 13 July 2007 |
59 | Czech Republic | 19 September 2007 [54] |
60 | Iceland | 14 December 2007 |
61 | Mexico | 26 September 2008 |
62 | Portugal | 26 November 2008 |
63 | Cyprus | 22 June 2009 [55] |
64 | Hungary | 23 September 2011 |
65 | Brazil | 21 December 2011 [56] |
66 | Serbia | 22 February 2013 [57] |
– | Cook Islands | 18 November 2014 [58] |
67 | Georgia | 18 February 2015 |
68 | Estonia | 12 March 2015 |
69 | Kazakhstan | 17 March 2015 |
70 | Poland | 29 August 2016 [59] |
71 | Latvia | 28 October 2020 |
72 | Saudi Arabia | 14 December 2020 |
73 | Ireland | 27 July 2021 [60] |
74 | Kuwait | 2 September 2021 |
75 | Bahrain | 19 September 2022 |
76 | Marshall Islands | 21 September 2022 [61] |
77 | Kyrgyzstan | 7 December 2022 |
78 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 9 February 2023 |
79 | Tajikistan | 10 February 2023 |
80 | Rwanda | 22 March 2023 |
81 | Romania | 10 April 2023 |
82 | Vietnam | 21 September 2023 [62] |
83 | Qatar | 16 February 2024 |
84 | Nicaragua | 28 February 2024 |
85 | Dominican Republic | 29 February 2024 |
86 | Nepal | 1 March 2024 |
87 | Oman | 14 March 2024 |
88 | Uruguay | 14 March 2024 |
89 | Uganda | 15 April 2024 [63] |
— | Kosovo | 17 April 2024 [64] |
90 | Lithuania | 23 September 2024 |
91 | Dominica | 25 October 2024 [65] |
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. [66]
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. [67]
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. [68] [69] [70]
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.
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
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Australia | 4 June 1970 | See Australia–Tonga relations
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Brazil | 21 December 2011 |
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Canada | 11 June 1971 | |
China | 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.
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Fiji | 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". [75] Radio Australia noted that he had been "the star of this year's meeting, for the people of Tonga", [76] while TVNZ reported that he had been "given a hero's welcome". [77] 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". [78] | |
Germany | 1 May 1976 |
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Greece | 1984 | |
India | 23 December 1970 | See India–Tonga relations
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Japan | July 1970 |
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Latvia | 28 October 2020 |
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Mexico | 6 September 2008 | |
New Zealand | 4 June 1970 | See New Zealand–Tonga relations |
Russia | 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. [88]
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Samoa | See Samoa–Tonga relations Both nations are Pacific Islands countries and members of the Commonwealth of Nations and Pacific Islands Forum.
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South Korea | 11 September 1970 | The Kingdom of Tonga and the Republic of Korea have established diplomatic relations on September 11, 1970.
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Spain | 16 November 1979 |
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Turkey | 26 January 1976 [90] | See Tonga–Turkey relations
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United Kingdom | 4 June 1970 | Tonga has had its longest formal relations with the United Kingdom, with which it remains on very good terms. The British explorer James Cook led expeditions to Tonga in 1773, 1774 and 1777. This was followed by extensive English missionary activity beginning in 1797. The mass conversion of most Tongans to Christianity – and primarily to Wesleyan Methodism – resulted in strong religious ties to England as the source of most of the missionaries involved. Indeed, it was in part through the assistance of the English missionary Shirley Baker (who baptized him) that George Tupou I established the current Tonga constitutional monarchy in 1875. This served to further strengthen Anglo-Tongan ties, and the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Tonga established formal mutual diplomatic recognition in 1879. [91] While always remaining independent, Tonga became a British protected state under the so-called Treaty of Friendship on 18 May 1900, when European settlers and rival Tongan chiefs tried to oust the second king. The Treaty of Friendship and protected state status ended only in 1970 under arrangements established during the reign of Tonga's third monarch, Queen Sālote. Tonga is unique among Pacific island nations in its never having been colonized. Its foreign relations, therefore, have always been as an independent monarchy free of the colonial relationships of its neighbors. (see History of Tonga). Tonga's earliest foreign relations were rooted in conquest of many of its neighboring islands so that by the 12th century, Tongans, and the Tongan kings, the Tu'i Tonga, were known across the Pacific, from Niue, Samoa to Tikopia they ruled these nations for over 400 years, leading some historians to refer to a "Tongan Empire," although it was more so a network of interacting navigators, chiefs and adventurers. Tonga's dominance of the region was greatly affected following first contact with the Dutch beginning in 1616 on the Northern Tongan islands "Cocos Island" (Tafahi) and "Traitors Island" (Niuatoputapu), and later in 1643 on the main island of Tonga itself. The Dutch did not establish a lasting presence, but Dutch reports led to interest from the British. The British explorer James Cook led expeditions to Tonga in 1773, 1774 and 1777. This was followed by extensive English missionary activity beginning in 1797. The mass conversion of most Tongans to Christianity – and primarily to Wesleyan Methodism – resulted in strong religious ties to England as the source of most of the missionaries involved. Indeed, it was in part through the assistance of the English missionary Shirley Baker (who baptized him) that George Tupou I established the current Tonga constitutional monarchy in 1875. This served to further strengthen Anglo-Tongan ties. While always remaining independent, Tonga became a British protected state under the so-called Treaty of Friendship on 18 May 1900, when European settlers and rival Tongan chiefs tried to oust the second king. This protected the Tongan monarchy from European or other colonizing powers in return for a special relationship with the United Kingdom. In the 1950s, Anglo-Tongan relations were strengthened with the visit of each country's monarch to the other nation. In 1953, Tonga's Queen Sālote became the first Tongan monarch to visit Britain when she attended the coronation of Elizabeth II. Soon after, in 1954, the Queen Elizabeth then visited Tonga. The Treaty of Friendship and protected state status ended only in 1970 under arrangements established during the reign of Tonga's third monarch, Queen Sālote. As part of cost-cutting measures across the British Foreign Service, the British Government closed the British High Commission in Nukuʻalofa in March 2006, transferring representation of British interests in Tonga to the UK High Commissioner in Fiji. The last resident British High Commissioner was Paul Nessling. [92] In 2010, Tongan Brigadier General Tau'aika 'Uta'atu, Commander of the Tonga Defence Services, signed an agreement in London committing a minimum of 200 Tongan troops to cooperate with Britain's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. [93]
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United States | 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, [94] [95] it has yet to be established. [96] 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. [97] 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. [98]
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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.
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.
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. [100]
Fiji has experienced many coups recently, in 1987, 2000, and 2006. Fiji has been suspended various times from the Commonwealth of Nations, a grouping of mostly former British colonies. It was readmitted to the Commonwealth in December 2001, following the parliamentary election held to restore democracy in September that year, and has been suspended again because of the 2006 coup, but has been readmitted a second time after the 2014 election. Other Pacific Island governments have generally been sympathetic to Fiji's internal political problems and have declined to take public positions.
The government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) conducts its own foreign relations. Since independence in 1986, the FSM has established diplomatic relations with 92 countries, including all of its Pacific neighbors.
Kiribati is a full member of the Commonwealth, the IMF and the World Bank, and became a full member of the United Nations in 1999. Kiribati hosted the Thirty-First Pacific Islands Forum in October 2000. Kiribati has Least Developed Country Status and its interests rarely extend beyond the region. Through accession to the Lomé Convention, then Cotonou Agreement, Kiribati is also a member of the African Caribbean and Pacific Group. Kiribati maintains good relations with most countries and has particularly close ties to Pacific neighbours Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand. Kiribati briefly suspended its relations with France in 1995 over that country's decision to renew nuclear testing in the South Pacific.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands has established bilateral diplomatic relations with 112 countries. Regional cooperation, through membership in various regional and international organizations, is a key element in its foreign policy.
The foreign relations of New Zealand are oriented chiefly toward developed democratic nations and emerging Pacific Island economies. Until the late 20th century, New Zealand aligned itself strongly with the United Kingdom and had few bilateral relationships with other countries. From the latter half of the 20th century, Australia has been New Zealand's most important cultural, economic and military partner. Today, the country participates in several multilateral political organisations, including Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Pacific Community, and the Pacific Islands Forum. New Zealand has been described as an emerging power; however, such a claim needs to be considered in the context of its medium-sized economy and limited military capability. The country's major political parties have generally agreed on the broad outlines of foreign policy, and the government has been active in promoting free trade, nuclear disarmament, and arms control.
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), has full diplomatic relations with 180 out of the other 192 United Nations member states, Cook Islands, Niue and the State of Palestine. As of 2024, China has had the most diplomatic missions of any state.
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania. The country has 171 islands – of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about 750 km2 (290 sq mi), scattered over 700,000 km2 (270,000 sq mi) in the southern Pacific Ocean. As of 2021, according to Johnson's Tribune, Tonga has a population of 104,494, 70% of whom reside on the main island, Tongatapu. The country stretches approximately 800 km (500 mi) north-south. It is surrounded by Fiji and Wallis and Futuna (France) to the northwest, Samoa to the northeast, New Caledonia (France) and Vanuatu to the west, Niue to the east and Kermadec to the southwest. Tonga is about 1,800 km (1,100 mi) from New Zealand's North Island.
Vanuatu maintains diplomatic relations with many countries, and it has a small network of diplomatic missions. Australia, France, Japan, New Zealand, the People's Republic of China, South Korea and the United Kingdom maintain embassies, High Commissions, or missions in Port Vila. The British High Commission maintained a continued presence for almost a century, though closed from 2005 until reopening in 2019.
Foreign relations of Australia are influenced by its position as a leading trading nation and as a significant donor of humanitarian aid. Australia's foreign policy is guided by a commitment to multilateralism and regionalism, as well as to build strong bilateral relations with its allies. Key concerns include free trade, terrorism, refugees, economic co-operation with Asia and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Australia is active in the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations. Given its history of starting and supporting important regional and global initiatives, it has been described as a regional middle power par excellence.
The Samoan Government is generally conservative and pro-Western, with a strong interest in regional political and economic issues. Samoa participated in a first round of negotiations with its Pacific Island neighbors for a regional trade agreement in August 2000. In January 2009, Samoa opened embassies in the Republic of Korea, China and Japan.
Nauru became a sovereign, independent republic on 31 January 1968, following the passage of the Nauru Independence Act 1967 by the Parliament of Australia and the end of its status as a United Nations Trust Territory. Nauru has established diplomatic relations with a number of nations, including most of its Pacific neighbors with which it maintains economic, cultural and administrative ties.
From 1916 to 1975, Tuvalu was part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony of the United Kingdom. A referendum was held in 1974 to determine whether the Gilbert Islands and Ellice Islands should each have their own administration. As a consequence of the referendum, the separate British colonies of Kiribati and Tuvalu were formed. Tuvalu became fully independent as a sovereign state within the Commonwealth on 1 October 1978. On 5 September 2000, Tuvalu became the 189th member of the United Nations.
The foreign policy of Solomon Islands as of 2008 was described by the Solomon Islands government as a "look north" policy, aimed as strengthening diplomatic and economic relations with Asian countries for development purposes.
Niue maintains diplomatic relations with various other countries and multilateral organizations.
Oceania is, to the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China, a stage for continuous diplomatic competition. The PRC dictates that no state can have diplomatic relations with both the PRC and the ROC. As of 2024, eleven states in Oceania have diplomatic relations with the PRC, and three have diplomatic relations with the ROC. These numbers fluctuate as Pacific Island nations re-evaluate their foreign policies, and occasionally shift diplomatic recognition between Beijing and Taipei. The issue of which "Chinese" government to recognize has become a central theme in the elections of numerous Pacific island nations, and has led to several votes of no-confidence.
Fiji–Tonga relations are foreign relations between Fiji and Tonga. These neighbouring countries in the South Pacific have a history of bilateral relations going back several centuries.
The Kingdom of Tonga and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics established formal diplomatic relations in April 1976. The USSR was dissolved in 1991 and was succeeded by the Russian Federation as the successor state.
Tonga and China (PRC) established official diplomatic relations in 1998. The two countries maintain cordial diplomatic, economic, and military relations.
The political status of the Cook Islands and Niue is formally defined as being states in free association within the Realm of New Zealand, which is made up of the Cook Islands, Niue, and New Zealand and its territories, Tokelau and the Ross Dependency. The Cook Islands and Niue do not have full constitutional independence from New Zealand but act as independent countries. Some countries have recognised them as sovereign entities and established diplomatic relations. However, New Zealand may carry out defence and foreign affairs on behalf of the two associated states when requested.
India–Tonga relations are the international relations that exist between India and Tonga. The High Commission of India in Suva, Fiji is concurrently accredited to Tonga.
Op 4 november 1975 vond te Nuku'alofa de feestelijke herdenking plaats van het honderdjarig bestaan van de Grondwet van...