THE Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States Armed Forces Admiral Michael Mullen dropped into Tonga for a three-hour visit on November 9 and thanked Tonga for their continued commitment and support in promoting peace and stability in the world, by providing troops to Iraq and now Afghanistan.

This was the first time for the highest-ranking officer in the United States Armed Forces to visit Tonga, although Admiral Mullen had previously visited Tonga twice in 1987 when he commanded the destroyer "USS Goldsborough".

A reception was held in his honour at the Naval Base Masefield last night. Admiral Mullen was accompanied by his wife Deborah and over 20 high ranking US military officials including Lieutenant General Charles Jacoby.

Admiral Mullen said he came back to Tonga simply to say "thank you".

"Thank you for your friendship, thank you for your support and thank you for the long lasting friendship, which started in very difficult times back in 1941 or 42."

He said it had been part of his long-term view to come back to Tonga.

"From 2004 to 2008 I in was in and out of Iraq and would go into Camp Victory and one of the immediate highlights was to see those Tongan soldiers deployed there and who were a long way from home, again in support of our efforts there by providing security.

"Each time I regard with great pride being able to say 'hello' to the Tongan soldiers and talk to them a little bit about home because I have been here and that was very special," he said.

Afghanistan

He said Tonga had now committed going to Afghanistan, again on their side and again on "a very, very tough fight."

The initial platoon of 55 Tongan soldiers was currently training in the United Kingdom and in the next few weeks would head to Afghanistan.

"You have always been with us and we know that and while I take your point that you are delighted to see me here, believe me I am much more grateful for all that you are, the differences that you have made.

"And again, I just really want to say thank you for that support, thank you for that continued commitment and rest assured when we started in 1941-42, we would always be with you."

South Pacific visit

The Commander of the Tonga Defence Service Brigadier Tau'aika 'Uta'atu in his welcoming speech wholeheartedly thanked Admiral Mullen for including Tonga in his visit to the South Pacific.

He said he was the first US Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff ever to visit our shores in the history of the Tonga Defence Service and the US Armed Forces defence relationship.

He told guests that Admiral Mullen is the highest-ranking officer of the US Armed Forces currently serving as the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff. He is President Obama's principal military advisor who has more than 1.5 million active personnel and another 1.5 million Reserve Personnel under his Command and that is more than 25 times the population of Tonga, he said.

He said that as of 2010 Admiral Mullen spends approximately US$700 billion annually to fund the military forces accounting for about 43 percent of the world's military expenditure. At the same time he is responsible for the security for the whole of America and he works together with hundreds of countries, to maintain peace and stability in the world.

Wars

He said at present he is running two major wars, one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan and his visit marked a special chapter in the defence relationship between Tonga and the US which began with an operation called Operation Bleacher that included Tonga in the United States' plan to hold and occupy some of the small islands as an air and advanced naval base in the Pacific in 1942. And in early 1943 more than 10,000 members of the US Armed Forces were stationed in Tonga and on the same year Tonga fought alongside the US Army and Marine Corps units in Guadalcanal.

Brigadier 'Uta'atu said in that TDS had a long-standing friendship with the US Armed Forces that was formalised in September 1978. Since then TDS had benefited greatly through military training courses and millions of dollars worth of equipment, he said.

"Your presence here helps to enhance and consolidate that relationship and we value it very highly. We undertook a common course in the Solomons in the 1940's, in Iraq from 2004-08 and soon in Afghanistan.

"To protect our way of life, liberty, freedom and to extend those blessings to other countries by working together in Iraq and soon in Afghanistan, we believe that we help the international communities especially our countries to become safer."

Masefield Base

The Admiral and his party arrived at Fua'amotu International Airport at 6:35pm in a US Air Force aircraft. They arrived at the Masefield Naval Base and met HRH Princess Pilolevu Tuita, the Prime Minister Hon Dr Feleti Sevele, Noble Tuita, Hon Frederica Tuita and guests.

He then departed for the Polata'ane residence and met King George Tupou V before returning to the reception. During the occasion, traditional Tongan gifts were presented to Admiral Mullen and his wife Deborah.

Admiral Mullen and his party came to Tonga from Australia after attending the Australia US Ministerial Consultations in Melbourne. They departed Tonga around 9:30pm for the United States.

Also present at the reception were the United States Ambassador to Tonga Steven McGann based in Suva, Fiji, the US Defence Attache in Suva Commander Robert Forwood, the British High Commissioner in Fiji Mac Mclachlan, and from Wellington Group Captain Graham Bond of the UK Defence Advisory at the British High Commission.

They came to Tonga prior to the Admiral's arrival in support of his historical visit.