New York – February 2025. On Tuesday 25th February 2025 the Kingdom of Tonga and the Serene Republic of San Marino formally established diplomatic relations during an official ceremony at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of San Marino to the United Nations in New York City.
His Excellency Viliami Va‘inga Tōnē, the Permanent Representative of Tonga to the United Nations, signed on behalf of the Kingdom of Tonga. His Excellency Damiano Beleffi, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of San Marino, signed on behalf of the Government of the Republic of San Marino.
The Permanent Mission of Tonga to the United Nations stated, “The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Tonga and the Republic of San Marino is guided by the intention to strengthen the existing friendly relations between the respective Governments and peoples, and to expand the scope of cooperation in the political, economic, social and cultural fields.”
During their meeting, the two United Nations Representatives deliberated on potential areas of collaboration, including the enhancement of commercial links, the promotion of tourism, the facilitation of visa and consular accessibility for citizens of both nations, and the exploration of opportunities in domains of mutual interest that align with the aspirations of both countries to maintain continued cordial relations.
The Republic of San Marino is a microstate entirely surrounded by Italy. It holds the distinction of being the oldest representative republic and is the European state with the second smallest population. Situated on the northeastern side of the Apennine Mountains, San Marino is the fifth-smallest country globally, encompassing a land area of just over 61 square kilometers and, as of 2023, a population of 33,642. It is among the 46 member States of the Council of Europe and participates in the Eurozone, though it is not a member of the European Union.
The economy of San Marino is predominantly based on finance, industry, services, retail, and tourism. It ranks among the wealthiest countries worldwide in terms of GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) per capita, with figures comparable to the most developed European regions. Additionally, the country holds the 44th position in the Human Development Index.
