'No island is too small to make an impact': Germany builds closer ties with Tonga, seals diplomacy with Niue

Excerpt and Photo Credit: pacificislandtimes.com

Germany’s foreign minister recently embarked on an Indo-Pacific tour to shore up relations and build a backstop against China.

Tonga was the last leg of Johann Wadephul’s tour, and to some observers, it the curious part of the itinerary, which began in Singapore and Brunei before moving on to New Zealand and Australia.

How does Tonga, a tiny island kingdom in the South Pacific with a population of

approximately 104,000, share the interests of economic powerhouse Germany, a country it has so little in common with?

Lord Fakafanua, Tonga’s prime minister, said Wadephul’s visit reflected the “strength and longevity” of the two countries' relationship and their shared focus on sustainable development and climate resilience, both vital to their future.

While in Tonga, Wadephul met with Niue's prime minister, Dalton Tagelagi, to seal Germany's diplomatic relations with Niue, marking another step toward closer ties in the Pacific region.