Anthony Bailey, Hon. Consul-General of the Kingdom of Tonga in Portugal, undertook a working fact-finding visitto the Autonomous Region of the Azores, visiting the islands of Santa Maria, Graciosa, and Terceira to explore shared interests and potential areas of cooperation between Tonga and this unique Atlantic archipelago.
Over the years, the Hon. Consul-General has travelled extensively throughout the Azores and, with this visit, he will have visited 8 of the archipelago’s 9 islands: Santa Maria, Terceira, Graciosa, Faial, Pico, Flores, Corvo and São Miguel.
Santa Maria, the first stop on this journey, offered valuable insight into the island’s maritime history, traditional communities and volcanic landscapes — all of which reflect strong parallels with Tonga’s own island heritage. The presence of a European Space Agency station highlighted potential collaboration in climate observation and environmental research.
The next visit was to Graciosa, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, where the Hon. Consul-General observed local approaches to sustainability, renewable energy and environmental protection — priorities shared by many Pacific island nations, including Tonga.
The final stop, Terceira, offered a deeper understanding of the governance, culture and economic life of the Azores as an autonomous region of Portugal. Discussions emphasised the shared challenges faced by island territories, including climate resilience, maritime affairs and cultural preservation.
Across all three islands, Anthony Bailey highlighted the many commonalities linking the Kingdom of Tonga and the Azores — from their ocean-centred economies to their commitment to sustainable island development — opening promising avenues for cooperation in environmental protection, renewable energy, ocean governance, cultural exchange and small-island resilience.