Washington DC – September 2023. After the success of the UN General Assembly in New York, Tonga’s prime minister Hon Hu’akavameiliku, Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni and delegation moved on to Washington DC for the Pacific Islands Forum and was warmly hosted at the White House by US President Joseph Biden.
This followed the recent official visit to Tonga of US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and the opening of a US Embassy in the Tongan capital Nuku’alofa on May 9, 2023. This opening occurred less than one year after US Vice President Kamala Harris announced at a meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum that the US Government would begin discussions with Tonga regarding establishing an embassy in the South Pacific kingdom.
The opening symbolises the renewal of the bilateral relationship and the US partnership in the Indo-Pacific region. The USA share a history with Kingdom of Tonga dating back to 1886 and the formal establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972.
