On 24 June 2026, the Hon Consul-General of Tonga Comendador Anthony Bailey attended the official celebration in Lisbon of the 250th Anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America, hosted by Ambassador and Mrs John Arrigo at the Pavilhão Carlos Lopes.
The large-scale celebration was attended by over a thousand guests and brought together senior members of the Portuguese Government, representatives of public life and the diplomatic corps accredited to the Portuguese Republic. Among those present were H.E. Paulo Rangel, Minister of State and Foreign Affairs and H.R.H. Dom Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza, Head of the Portuguese Royal House.
The evening featured a major cultural programme with musicians, dancers and singers representing different parts and traditions of the United States. The performances celebrated the country’s cultural diversity and formed part of the wider Freedom 250 programme commemorating two and a half centuries since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
TONGA–UNITED STATES RELATIONS
The Kingdom of Tonga and the United States of America enjoy warm and longstanding relations. Formal diplomatic relations were established on 4 October 1972, when the United States accredited its Ambassador to Tonga following the Kingdom’s return to full control of its external affairs in 1970.
The relationship has, however, much deeper historical roots. The United States and Tonga signed a Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation in Nukuʻalofa in 1886, while Tonga later played an important strategic role in the Pacific during the Second World War.
Today, cooperation extends across political dialogue, regional security, maritime affairs, disaster preparedness, education, development and climate resilience.
A further milestone was reached on 9 May 2023, when the United States formally opened its Embassy in Nukuʻalofa, establishing its first resident American diplomatic mission in the Kingdom and reinforcing the growing importance of the bilateral relationship. The United States Ambassador resident in Suva continues to be accredited to Tonga, while the Embassy in Nukuʻalofa maintains a permanent American diplomatic presence in the capital.
Tonga is represented in Washington, D.C., by H.E. Viliami Vaʻinga Tōnē, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United States of America. His Letter of Credence was accepted by President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on 20 April 2021, formally accrediting him as Tonga’s Ambassador to the United States.
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATED IN TONGA
The major anniversary was also celebrated in the Kingdom of Tonga. On 10 July 2026, the United States Embassy in Nukuʻalofa hosted a celebration attended by partners, neighbours, friends and representatives of Tongan public life.
Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala and Crown Princess Sinaitakala, serving as Regents of the Kingdom, attended the celebrations, reflecting the importance attached by the Tongan Royal Family to the friendship between the two countries.
The programme in Nukuʻalofa included a reception and concluded with a major fireworks display over the Tongan capital in honour of the United States’ 250th anniversary. Available public reporting identifies the United States Embassy in Nukuʻalofa as the organiser, but does not specify a separate named venue or individual host.
The celebrations in Lisbon and Nukuʻalofa provided fitting opportunities to recognise the close friendship between the Kingdom of Tonga and the United States of America and to commemorate an important milestone in American history.
Official website United States Embassy in Portugal https://pt.usembassy.gov
Art in Embassies https://art.state.gov
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