Tonga is actively pursuing a diplomatic reset with the United States amid a U.S. Travel ban impacting Tongan citizens, while simultaneously strengthening ties through a newly established sister city partnership with East Palo Alto, California. The dual-track approach signals a concerted effort by Tonga to navigate strained relations with Washington and foster deeper connections at the municipal level.
The impetus for the diplomatic reset stems from a recent decision by the U.S. To halt the issuance of new visitor and student visas for Tongans. Lord Fakafānua, Tonga’s Prime Minister, has described the situation as Tonga experiencing “collateral damage” from a shift in U.S. Policy. He has formally invited U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau to visit the Kingdom, believing a high-level visit is crucial to repairing and enhancing the bilateral relationship. This invitation followed an investment forum hosted by the United States in Hawaii, where Lord Fakafānua extended the reciprocal invitation to Landau. , reports indicated the Prime Minister is actively working to address the visa issue.
Parallel to these diplomatic efforts, Tonga’s Kolofoʻou District and the City of East Palo Alto formalized a sister city relationship on . This marks Tonga’s first-ever sister city partnership with a U.S. City, a milestone celebrated in a virtual ceremony connecting officials in Nuku’alofa and East Palo Alto. The agreement aims to bolster cultural, educational, and economic ties between the two communities.
The partnership isn’t simply a symbolic gesture. Officials anticipate the initiative will facilitate cultural and youth exchanges, improve governance collaboration, and address critical issues like climate resilience and disaster risk management. Chargé d’Affaires Devon Brown of the U.S. Embassy in Tonga highlighted the potential for increased trade, tourism, and entrepreneurship as the relationship deepens. The agreement also builds upon existing humanitarian ties, tracing its roots back to the substantial aid provided by the East Palo Alto community following the devastating Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunami, which significantly impacted Tonga’s Kolofoʻou District.
The East Palo Alto partnership is part of a broader initiative called “7 for 70,” which focuses on establishing relationships between U.S. Municipalities and those in the Pacific Islands. Carlo Capua, a representative from Sister Cities International, noted in an council meeting that there is a relative lack of such partnerships in the Pacific Islands, making this connection particularly significant. He specifically highlighted the strong Tongan community within East Palo Alto, stating the cities were “like a hand in a glove.”
The origins of the East Palo Alto-Kolofoʻou connection are deeply rooted in the local community. Tonga Victoria, a resident of East Palo Alto who previously lived in Tonga, played a key role in initiating the project. She observed that Tongans have been emigrating to the Bay Area, and particularly to East Palo Alto, since the 1980s. The conversation surrounding the sister city relationship began in , coinciding with the planned construction of a new U.S. Embassy in Tonga.
While the specifics of programs under the sister city agreement are still being developed, officials anticipate initiatives focused on youth and cultural exchanges that reflect shared values and histories. The partnership is expected to leverage the existing framework for bilateral cooperation established by Sister Cities International, an agency dedicated to fostering cultural and educational exchange programs across 120 countries.
The timing of these developments – the diplomatic reset effort and the sister city agreement – suggests a strategic approach by Tonga to broaden its engagement with the U.S. At multiple levels. The sister city partnership provides a tangible platform for collaboration and people-to-people diplomacy, potentially mitigating some of the negative impacts of the current travel ban and paving the way for a more constructive relationship with Washington. The focus on climate resilience and disaster risk management also aligns with shared priorities, offering a practical avenue for cooperation.
East Palo Alto Mayor Webster Lincoln and former Mayor Martha Barragan, along with Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tukuʻaho and District Officer Alotaisi Takau, all endorsed the partnership, signaling strong support from both sides. The agreement represents a significant step in strengthening ties between the two nations, offering a potential model for future collaborations between U.S. Cities and communities in the Pacific Islands.
