United States Opens Tonga Embassy as it Pushes for Pacific Influence

The United States opened an embassy in Tonga on Wednesday as it continued efforts to bolster its diplomatic presence in Pacific island countries where it is vying for influence with China.

The opening of the U.S. embassy in the Tongan capital Nuku’alofa follows the reopening of the U.S. embassy in the Solomon Islands in February after a three decade absence. The United States also has said it wants embassies in Vanuatu and Kiribati in addition to its existing missions in countries such as Fiji and Papua New Guinea.