11 April 2024

Nuku’alofa:- Her Excellency, Ms Marie C. Damour, the Ambassador of the United States to Tonga, and the Hon. Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku held a bilateral meeting in Nuku’alofa on April 11, 2024.

The bilateral conversation included, 52nd year of diplomatic relations between the USA and the Kingdom of Tonga; grand opening of the US Embassy office in Nuku’alofa in the presence of Secretary of State Blinken; goodwill service of the U.S Peace Corps Volunteers; unwavering support of the US Government for disaster risk reduction and addressing many challenges of climate change, especially in all Pacific Small Island Developing States and areas of mutual cooperation and common interests that Tonga strive to strengthen towards peace and the prosperity of our people.

They also discussed the US-Tonga Defence Partnership seeking new avenues of partnership with the US educational institutions and Tonga National University and seeking consideration to build a stronger pathway regarding deportees and over-stayers in the US.

Prime Minister, Hon Hu’akavameiliku, expressed hopes that there will be a visa processing facilities available in Nuku’alofa in due course. He also welcomed the continued high level dialogues between President Biden and Pacific Island Leaders to further enhance genuine and durable partnership.