Foreign relations of Tonga

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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]

Contents

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Tonga maintains diplomatic relations with:

Diplomatic relations of Tonga.svg
#CountryDate [2]
1Flag of Kiribati.svg  Kiribati No date given
2Flag of Tuvalu.svg  Tuvalu No date given
3Flag of Nauru.svg  Nauru No date given [3]
4Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa No date given [4]
5Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 4 June 1970 [5]
6Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4 June 1970 [6]
7Flag of Japan.svg  Japan July 1970 [7]
8Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 11 September 1970 [8]
9Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 3 December 1970 [9]
10Flag of India.svg  India 23 December 1970 [10]
11Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 11 June 1971 [11]
12Flag of France.svg  France 16 July 1971 [12]
13Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 16 August 1971 [13]
14Flag of the United States.svg  United States 6 November 1972 [14]
15Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 21 January 1974 [15]
16Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 2 October 1975 [16]
17Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 4 November 1975 [17]
18Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 26 January 1976 [18]
19Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 1 November 1976 [19]
20Flag of Israel.svg  Israel June 1977 [20]
21Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 2 January 1978 [21]
22Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 16 March 1978 [22]
23Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 1 October 1979 [23]
24Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 16 November 1979 [24]
25Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 7 July 1980 [25]
26Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 7 July 1980 [26]
27Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 1980 [27]
28Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 1980 [28]
29Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 1 July 1981 [29]
30Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 26 November 1981 [30]
31Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 1982 [31]
32Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 10 January 1984 [32]
33Flag of Peru.svg  Peru 20 January 1984 [33]
34Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 5 July 1985 [34]
35Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 13 September 1985 [34]
36Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 1985 [35]
37Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 30 August 1988 [36]
38Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia.svg  Federated States of Micronesia 1 August 1989 [37]
39Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives 1 August 1989 [38]
40Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei 1 May 1990 [39]
41Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan Before 1992 [40]
42Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore 6 August 1993 [41]
43Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 1 December 1993 [42]
44Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 27 January 1994 [43]
45Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 30 May 1994 [44]
Flag of the Vatican City - 2001 version.svg  Holy See 24 August 1994 [45]
46Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 16 January 1995 [46]
47Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 7 December 1995 [47]
48Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 2 November 1998 [48]
49Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 1 September 1999 [49]
50Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia 4 April 2001
51Flag of Seychelles.svg  Seychelles 12 July 2002
52Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 15 July 2002 [50]
53Flag of East Timor.svg  East Timor 26 November 2002
54Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini 22 May 2003
55Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 2004 [51] [52]
56Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 3 May 2007
57Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela 9 May 2007 [53]
58Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 13 July 2007
59Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 19 September 2007 [54]
60Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 14 December 2007
61Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 26 September 2008
62Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 26 November 2008
63Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 22 June 2009 [55]
64Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 23 September 2011
65Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 21 December 2011 [56]
66Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 22 February 2013 [57]
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 18 November 2014 [58]
67Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 18 February 2015
68Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 12 March 2015
69Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 17 March 2015
70Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 29 August 2016 [59]
71Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 28 October 2020
72Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 14 December 2020
73Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 27 July 2021 [60]
74Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 2 September 2021
75Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain 19 September 2022
76Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg  Marshall Islands 21 September 2022 [61]
77Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan 7 December 2022
78Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 9 February 2023
79Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan 10 February 2023
80Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda 22 March 2023
81Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 10 April 2023
82Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam 21 September 2023 [62]
83Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 16 February 2024
84Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua 28 February 2024
85Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic 29 February 2024
86Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal 1 March 2024
87Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 14 March 2024 [63]
88Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 14 March 2024 [64]

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. [65]

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. [66]

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. [67] [68] [69]

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

CountryFormal Relations BeganNotes
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 4 June 1970See Australia–Tonga relations
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 21 December 2011
  • Brazil is accredited to Tonga from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Tonga does not have an accreditation to Brazil.
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 11 June 1971
  • Canada is accredited to Tonga from its High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand. [72]
  • Tonga is accredited to Canada from its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City. [73]
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 2 November 1998See 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.
Flag of Fiji.svg  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". [74] Radio Australia noted that he had been "the star of this year's meeting, for the people of Tonga", [75] while TVNZ reported that he had been "given a hero's welcome". [76]

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". [77]

Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 1 May 1976
  • Germany is accredited to Tonga from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand and maintains an honorary consulate in Nukuʻalofa. [78]
  • Tonga is accredited to Germany from its high commission in London, United Kingdom.
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 1984
  • Diplomatic relations were established in 1984. [79]
  • Greece is accredited to Tonga from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand. [79]
  • Tonga does not have an accreditation to Greece.
Flag of India.svg  India 23 December 1970See India–Tonga relations
  • India is accredited to Tonga from its high commission in Suva, Fiji.
  • Tonga does not have an accreditation to India.
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan July 1970
  • Japan has an embassy in Nukuʻalofa.
  • Tonga has an embassy in Tokyo. [80]
Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 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. [81]
  • 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. [82]
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 6 September 2008
  • Mexico is accredited to Tonga from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand. [83]
  • Tonga is accredited to Mexico from its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City. [84]
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 4 June 1970See New Zealand–Tonga relations
  • New Zealand has a high commission in Nukuʻalofa. [85]
  • Tonga has a consulate-general in Auckland. [86]
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 14 October 1975See 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. [87]

  • Russia is accredited to Tonga from its embassy in Canberra, Australia.
  • Tonga does not have an accreditation to Russia.
Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 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.
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 11 September 1970

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

  • The two countries have good diplomatic relations.
  • The ROK's Investment in Tonga in 2019 was about 2.5 million $. [88]
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 16 November 1979
  • Spain is accredited to Tonga from its embassy in Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Tonga does not have an accreditation to Spain
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 26 January 1976 [89] See Tonga–Turkey relations
  • Turkish ambassador in Wellington to New Zealand is also accredited to Tonga. [89]
  • Trade volume between the two countries was negligible in 2019. [89]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  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. [90] 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. [91]

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. [92]

  • Tonga has a high commission in London.
  • United Kingdom has a high commission in Nukuʻalofa.
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 4 October 1972See 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, [93] [94] it has yet to be established. [95] 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. [96]

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. [97]

  • Tonga is accredited to the United States from its permanent mission to the United Nations in New York City and has a consulate-general in Burlingame, California. [98]
  • United States has an embassy in Nuku’alofa.

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. [99]

See also

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