About 2,000 combat uniforms and eight drones for His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) will be provided through Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) project, signed between HRH Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, the Interim Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Tonga, HE Inagaki Hisao.

The Official Security Assistance (OSA) grant aid of 300 million JPY, equivalent to $USD 2 million, was signed on 5 December 2025, at the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nuku’alofa.

The project aims to enhance the capabilities of His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) in the area of maritime surveillance, disaster response, and search and rescue, as well as strengthen the identity and morale of service members as military personnel. It is also expected to contribute to maintaining and enhancing peace and security in Tonga and the region, and thereby supporting a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”

Ambassador HE Inagaki Hisao said, “Today’s signing ceremony will further support the Tonga Royal Navy and Air Wing with their maritime security duties by providing cutting-edge drone technology. We expect these drones to play a significant role in enhancing Tonga’s surveillance and disaster response capabilities, contributing to your efforts to counter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and illegal drug trafficking.”

“Additionally, Japanese-made military uniforms featuring the camouflage color and pattern selected by His Majesty King Tupou VI, will be provided through this new initiative to strengthen the identity and morale within His Majesty’s Armed Forces."

Japan’s cooperation with Tonga’s armed forces is ongoing. Last year, Japan’s Ministry of Defense implemented its first capacity-building program for the Royal Tongan Navy by providing maintenance expertise, handling techniques, and basic repair skills for outboard motors. There are also two cadets from His Majesty’s Armed Forces currently enrolled at the National Defense Academy of Japan.

Japan’s OSA framework, established in 2023, was designed to deepen security cooperation and contribute to international peace by enhancing the security, law enforcement, and humanitarian response capabilities of recipient countries’ armed forces through the provision of equipment, supplies, and infrastructure assistance.