Tonga–United States relations

Tonga – United States relations are bilateral relations between Tonga and the United States.

Tonga – United States relations
Map indicating locations of Tonga and USA

Tonga
United States

History
Royal Tongan Marines in Iraq

On July 4, 2007, US Ambassador Larry Dinger noted the "close bilateral military relationship" between the two countries. Tonga is a member of the "Coalition of the Willing", and the Tonga Defence Services have deployed troops in Iraq.[1]

The United States has urged Tonga to embrace a "suitably democratic future", but has stated that "Tonga’s issues are for Tonga to resolve".[1] Hence the United States has put little or no pressure on Tonga, its military ally, to become a democracy.

Economic relations

Trade between the U.S. and Tonga is relatively low, but it has seen a steady increase in recent years. In 2001 U.S. exports to Tonga totaled US$4.8 million, and by 2005 they had increased to $10.78 million. In 2005, the U.S. imports from Tonga totaled $6.45 million.[2]

Diplomatic representation

The United States and Tonga have close cooperation on a range of international issues. Officers of the American Embassy in Suva, Fiji, are concurrently accredited to Tonga and make periodic visits since the United States has no permanent consular or diplomatic offices in Tonga. Peace Corps Volunteers teach and provide technical assistance to Tongans. Tonga has no embassy in Washington, DC, but has a permanent representative to the United Nations in New York, Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu, who is also accredited as ambassador to the United States; however, there is a Tongan consulate-general in San Francisco.[3] Many Tongans reside in the United States, particularly in Utah, California, Texas, and Hawaii.[2]

In 2023, the United States announced plans to open up an embassy in Tonga, as part of a larger regional push to strengthen ties in the Pacific.[4] The embassy was dedicated in July.[5]

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials include:

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets. United States Department of State.

  1. "July 4th Message from U.S. Ambassador to Tonga Larry M. Dinger" Archived 2008-11-19 at the Wayback Machine, official website of the United States' virtual embassy to Tonga, July 4, 2007
  2. US Department of State
  3. "Home".
  4. "US set to open Tonga embassy in May as Pacific push ramps up". The Guardian. 2023-05-02. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  5. Westerman, Ashley (2023-07-26). "The U.S. dedicates a new embassy in Tonga in a bid for more influence in the Pacific". World. NPR. Retrieved 2023-07-26.


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