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India-Tonga Bilateral Relations

As of February 2026

Historical Background: Tonga and India have traditionally enjoyed a close relationship. Late King Tupou IV and Queen paid state visits to India in 1971 and 1976. Indian Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi visited Tonga in 1981. Several Tongans, including members of the Royal family, have received training in India in defence and other courses under ITEC programme. In July 1972, the Late Prince Tu'ipelehake became the first Tongan to attend the Indian Military Academy in India.

The interaction between India and Tonga has gradually increased since the reopening of High Commission of India, Suva in 1999. The then Tongan PM/Foreign Minister visited India in May 2002 and had called on the PM, EAM and Agriculture Minister. Defence Advisor based in High Commission of India, Canberra is accredited to Tonga. 

Appointment of Honorary Consul : Ms. Lady Fane Kite Fakafanua was appointed as the first Honorary Consul of India to Tonga.  She presented here credential to Hon. Prime Minister of Tonga on 06 June 2025.

High-Level Exchanges

FIPIC: The Forum for India-Pacific Island Countries was inaugurated on 19 November 2014 at Suva.  Hon’ble Prime Minister of India also hosted the First Summit of the Forum in Suva (Fiji) during his historic visit to Fiji on 19 November 2014.  The Forum saw participation of 14 Pacific Island Countries. Tongan delegation led by Prime Minister Lord  Tu’ivakano attended the Summit.

FIPIC-II: As a follow-up of the historic first FIPIC Summit in 2014, India organized the second FIPIC at Jaipur on 21 August 2015, which was hosted by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi.   Building upon the success of the first FIPIC, India announced major initiatives to boost cooperation with the 14 Pacific Island countries. Tonga delegation led by Hon. Semisi Fakahau, Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forests & Fisheries, attended the Forum.

FIPIC-III: 3rd FIPIC Summit organized in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 22 May 2023, which was hosted by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and PNG’s PM, Hon. James Marape. Tonga delegation led by Hon. Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni, Prime Minister of Kingdom of Tonga, attended the Summit.

India – PIC FMM: On 24 September 2025, India hosted the FIPIC Foreign Ministers Meeting on the sidelines of the High Level Week (HLW) of 80th UNGA in New York. Tongan delegation led by Prime Minister of Tonga Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke participated in the meeting.

India-Pacific Islands Sustainable Development Conference (IPISDC): Government of India organized the India-Pacific Islands Sustainable Development Conference (IPISDC) at Suva, Fiji on 25-26 May 2017. Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. (Dr.) V.K.Singh (Retd.) hosted the event. Hon. Semisi Fakahau, Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forests & Fisheries led the Tongan delegation to the Conference.

International Solar Alliance: Tonga is one of the Founding Members of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) – a joint initiative of the Governments of India and France to promote solar energy. Hon. Semisi Fakahau, Minister of Agriculture visited New Delhi to attend the Founding Conference of ISA on 11 March 2018. Mr. Sione Pulotu Akauola, CEO for Tonga Ministry of MEIDECC and Mr. Ofa Sefana, Acting Director for Energy Department attended the 6th Session of the Assembly of the International Solar Alliance, New Delhi, India from 30 October – 1 November 2023. 2 member delegation led by Hon. Fekitamoeloa Katoa Utoikamanu, Minister for Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications visited New Delhi in November 2024 to represent Tonga at the 7th Session of the Assembly of the International Solar Alliance.

Visit of Minister of State of External Affairs, Hon’ble Shri Pabitra Margherita to Tonga  to attend 53rd PIF Summit in Tonga: The Minister of State for External Affairs Sh. Pabitra Margherita (MoS-PM) paid a two day official visit to the Kingdom of Tonga from 27-29 August 2024 to attend the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting.   During the first Ministerial visit to Tonga in 6 years, MoS-PM had a courtesy audience with HRH Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Tonga and exchanged views on further strengthening our bilateral partnership, including in the areas of Digital cooperation and Healthcare sector, especially Generic medicines. He also met with  Tongan Speaker, Lord Fatafehi Fakafanua (now Prime Minister) and  Minister for Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Communication and Climate Change (MEIDECCC) Ms. Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu.  During the visit, MoS-PM along with Tongan Minister for Energy and Climate Change Utoikamanu commissioned the Solarization of Heads of State Residences (SHOS) project at the premises of National Council of Women in Nuku’alofa. The project supported through India-UN Fund is also expected to generate 10KW power.

Other Important Visits/Exchanges:

  • Hon’ble Speaker of Lok Sabha Smt. Meira Kumar visited Tonga from 17-20 April 2012 to attend the Commonwealth Parliamentary Assembly Mid-Year Executive Committee Meeting. Hon’ble Speakers of the Legislative Assemblies of Nagaland, Shri Kiyanilie Peseyie and Rajasthan, Shri Dependra Singh Shekhawat also attended the meeting. Hon’ble Speaker launched the Kolomotu’a Solar Project on 19 April during her stay in Tonga.
  • Minister for Internal Affairs Hon Fe’ao Vakata, and Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Elsie Fukofuka, attended Distinguished Visitors Programme for Pacific Islands Countries, from 7-17 February 2016,  in India.
  • Shri Mansukh Lal Mandaviya, Hon. Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Chemicals and Fertilizers, visited Tonga on 25-26 April 2018.
  • Hon. Poasi Mataele Tei, Minister for Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications attend the 2nd Assembly of the ISA in New Delhi on 31 October 2019.
  • 3 member delegation led by His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) Tonga visited India to attend the Indo-Pacific Armies Chief Conference in Delhi from September 25-27, 2023.
  • 2 member delegation led by Hon. Fekitamoeloa katoa Utoikamanu, Minister for Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications visited New Delhi in November 2024 to represent Tonga at the 7th Session of the Assembly of the International Solar Alliance.
  • Lord Fatafehi Fakafanua, then-Speaker & the current Prime Minister of Tonga, and his spouse Lady Fane Kite, COO, Royal Oceania Institute, Tonga and Honorary Consul of India to the Kingdom of Tonga visited Mumbai from 27 – 29 October 2025 to participate in Sagarmanthan: The great Oceans Dialogue.
  • A 03-member Parliamentary delegation from Tonga participated in the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Commonwealth (CSPOC) which took place in India from 16 – 19 January 2026. From Tonga, the delegation was led by Lord Vaea, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. On 15 January, Speaker Vaea held a bilateral meeting with the Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla on the sidelines of the 28th CSPOC.

 

Human Resources Development

 

  • 10 Training slots are offered to Tonga under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme of the Government of India. Diplomats are also offered training at the Sushma Swaraj Foreign Service Institute of India. The number of persons who availed of civil training since its introduction are close to 70 till date. More than 40 Tongan Defence Service personnel have availed of defence training in various training institutions in India since  2011. 
  • Two experts from Tonga had attended the TERI Workshop on Sustainable Development in March 2007 in Suva. Four ‘solar mamas’ attended a training course at the Barefoot College, Tilonia. 
  • One diplomat from Tonga attended the training for diplomats of Pacific Island countries organised by the Foreign Service Institute held in Nadi, Fiji in May 2015.
  • Mr. J. Somasekharan, Indian ‘Coconut Development Expert’ was on deputation to the Government of Tonga for a period of seven months from March-October 2017.
  • MEA organized a familiarization visit for 27 media editors and journalists from Central and West Africa and Oceania countries from 13 to 22 January 2026. Ms. Mele Siasau from Matangi Tonga was one of the journalists visited India.

 

Indian Assistance:

  1. In 2007, GOI provided a grant-aid of US$ 100,000/- for construction of access road from Wharf to Hunga village.
  2. Another grant-aid of US$ 100,000/- was approved in 2008 for up-gradation of jetty in Hunga.

iii. On December 8, 2008, India donated 1,200 full uniform sets to Hon. Acting Minister of Defense, Tu'aTaumoepeau Tupou for the Tonga’s military.

  1. In July 2014, GOI had also provided grant-aid of US$ 300,000 for Tsunami Alert System.
  2. In October 2014, US$ 115,000 was committed by GOI for Project Proposal “Upgrade to the Office of the Public Service Commission ICT Infrastructure”
  3. In September 2015, US$ 71,627/- was approved by GOI for project titled ‘Spectrum Monitoring Including Detection of Interference and Illegal Transmission’.

Vii. In 2018, India gave US$ 1 million as assistance for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction after Tropical Cyclone Gita.  US$500,000 was given as immediate cash assistance and the balance amount has been given through UNDP for renovation of export facility in Tonga. 

viii. On 28 August 2020, Government of India approved funding US$1,018,844 for support response to COVID-19 pandemic.

  1. On 25 January 2022 Government of India announced an immediate assistance package of
    USD 200,000 in the aftermath of 15 January volcanic eruption and tsunami in Kingdom of Tonga. A consignment of 272 packages of Disaster Relief Supplies which includes Family Ridge Tents (100), Blankets (1000), Solar Lamps (1000), Dignity Kits (200) and Tarpaulins (250) worth US$ 40,000.00 was airlifted from India for the disaster affected people and reached Tonga on 23 May, 2022.

 

Cultural Relations

 

A 5-member cultural troupe from the Indian Cultural Centre, Suva visited Tonga from 17-21 July 2012 to participate at the Heilala Festival. Under the ‘Namaste Pacifika’, Indian Cultural Festival, Ministry of Culture sponsored ‘Mrs. Meera Das’ Odissi classical dance group performed in Tonga on 3 November 2017.  

 

On the occasion of official birthday of King Tupou VI On 4th July 2024, Tonga celebrated One Tonga Block Party. NRIs & PIOs put up an Indian stand and performed Indian dances and presented Indian cuisine in the presence of Tongan dignitaries. 10 other countries participated in the Block party.

 

IDY in Tonga

Since its inaugural event in 2015 the International Day of Yoga is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Tonga with participation from high dignitaries. On 20th June 2025, the 11th International Day of Yoga event was organised in Tonga. Around 100 Yoga enthusiasts participated in the Yoga session.

Bilateral Relations