The United States opened an embassy in Tonga on Tuesday, reaffirming its commitment to strengthen ties with the Pacific island nation amid Beijing’s growing influence in the region.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the new embassy in Tonga would allow the United States to deploy more diplomatic staff and resources, including the potential appointment of a resident ambassador to Tonga.
“This opening symbolizes the renewal of our relationship and underlines the strength of our commitment to our bilateral relations, to the people of Tonga, and to our partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region,” Miller said in a statement.
The announcement came ahead of President Joe Biden’s visit to Papua New Guinea later this month for talks with the Pacific nation’s leader—the first such visit by a sitting U.S. president in at least a century….