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 and since 2026 by HE Ambassador Mrs Carla Manuela Lourenço Saragoça.
In August 2022 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal approved the Tongan Cabinet’s decision to open a Consulate-General of the Kingdom of Tonga in Portugal. This is Tonga’s first diplomatic presence in Portugal since the establishment of diplomatic relations.
On 27 May 2021 His Majesty King Tupou VI of Tonga 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.
This nomination was accepted by the Portuguese Government through a diplomatic note issued in November 2022.
The Kingdom of Tonga values it growing relationship with the Portuguese Republic. In June and July 2022 the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, the Honourable Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni, paid an Official Visit to Portugal on the occasion of the United Nation’s Oceans Conference held in Lisbon.
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 and other Cabinet Ministers.
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 of Tonga the mission has hosted and supported many Tongans visiting Portugal often on religious pilgrimage, or to attend a sporting event or as part of official delegations from Tonga visiting Portugal.
The Consulate-General of Tonga plays an active role locally in promoting the Kingdom of Tonga to the citizens of Portugal and its citizens in the two Autonomous Regions of Azores and Madeira.
The mission continues to organise 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 the growing number of Portuguese nationals visiting the Kingdom of Tonga.
