Tongan-Portuguese Relations
The Kingdom of Tonga and the Portuguese Republic established diplomatic relations on 1 November 2008.
His Excellency Mr. António Pedro Rodrigues da Silva was presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Tupou VI in May 2021 having been nominated as the first Ambassador of the Portuguese Republic to the Kingdom of Tonga in December 2019. Ambassador Rodriques da Silva was resident in Canberra where he served concurrently as Portugal’s Ambassador to the Commonwealth of Australia.
The Portuguese Embassy in Australia continues to be the responsible diplomatic mission for relations with the Kingdom of Tonga including under HE Ambassador Antonio Albuquerque Moniz who served in Canberra between 2022 and 2025.
In August 2022 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal approved the Tongan Cabinet’s decision to open an Honorary Consulate-General of the Kingdom of Tonga in Portugal. This is Tonga’s first diplomatic presence in Portugal since the establishment of diplomatic relations.
His Majesty King Tupou VI later decreed by Letters Patent the commission of Mr Anthony Bailey as the first Tongan Honorary Consul-General to Portugal and the two Portuguese island Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira on 27 May 2021. This nomination was accepted by the Portuguese Government in November 2022.
Tonga values it growing relationship with Portugal. In June and July 2022 the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, the Hon Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni, paid an Official Visit to Portugal on the occasion of the United Nation’s Oceans Conference.
The Prime Minister of Tonga was received in Lisbon by the highest authorities of the Portuguese state, including His Excellency Professor Marcelo Ribeiro de Sousa, President of the Portuguese Republic, and His Excellency The Prime Minister of Portugal Dr Antonio Costa.
In July 2022 the Foreign Minister and Minister of Tourism of Tonga, the Honourable Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, paid an Official Visit to Portugal.
The Foreign Minister also attended the UN Conference and held numerous bilateral meetings including one with her counterpart, His Excellency Dr Joao Gomes Cravinho, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Portuguese Republic.
Since the opening of the Consulate-General it has hosted and supported many Tongans visiting Portugal often on religious pilgrimage and sporting events and official delegations visiting Portugal.
The Consulate-General plays an active role locally in promoting the Kingdom of Tonga to the citizens of Portugal and its Autonomous Regions. It also organises events and has an active social media presence bringing the latest news from Tonga and the Pacific Region to the wider attention of Portuguese state, government, parliamentary, diplomatic and business circles. It also assists with inquiries made by Portuguese nationals visiting the Kingdom of Tonga.
