The Kingdom of Tonga has formally established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Marshall Islands with the signing of a Joint Communiqué in New York by Tongan Prime Minister Hon Hu’akavameiliku, and President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, H.E. David Kabua, last week.

They were both in New York for the 77^th  Session of the United Nations General Assembly, on 20 September.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nuku’alofa stated today, that the formalization of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Tonga and the Republic of the Marshall Islands “is an expression of mutual trust and respect and demonstrates shared aspirations for a neighbourly future together.”

They envisage further strengthening of cooperation and collaboration through membership at the regional organizations, namely the Pacific Islands Forum, Pacific Community and all the Council of Regional Organizations of the Pacific (CROP) Agencies, as well as at the United Nations Organization with the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), Pacific Island Forum Group (PIF), Alliance of Small Island Developing States (AOSIS), the Asia Pacific Group (APG), and the Forum of Small States (FOSS).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Tonga appreciated working closely with the Marshall Islands, to highly prioritize the importance for action on Climate Change and its existential threats to the Pacific Islands Region, and for advocacy to the larger membership of the United Nations.