Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell traveled to the Kingdom of Tonga from August 27 to 28 to lead the U.S. delegation at the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting, hosted by Tonga and chaired by Prime Minister Hu‘akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni. Deputy Secretary Campbell also engaged with Pacific Island leaders on the sidelines of the event to discuss how the United States has worked to deliver on shared priorities, as outlined in the Pacific Islands Forum 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the U.S. Pacific Partnership Strategy.
On August 28, Deputy Secretary Campbell participated in the PIF Dialogue Partners Roundtable hosted by the PIF Secretariat, along with partners in the region, including members of Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP) such as Canada, Germany, Japan, Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom. He reaffirmed U.S. commitment to engage its Pacific neighbors to preserve an open, secure, and prosperous Pacific region.
Deputy Secretary Campbell met with Prime Minister Hu‘akavemeiliku of Tonga to discuss opportunities for deepening U.S.-Tonga cooperation, including opening a new consular space at Embassy Nuku’alofa. They had a warm discussion on key priorities in their bilateral relationship and a range of shared global and regional issues. Prime Minister Hu‘akavemeiliku welcomed a pilot program providing in-person interviews for non-immigrant visa applicants at Embassy Nuku‘alofa and reaffirmed his support for strengthened bilateral relations between the United States and Tonga.
Deputy Secretary Campbell also met with other Pacific Islands Forum leaders participating in the PIF Leaders Meeting, including PIF Secretary General Baron Waqa; Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape; Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon; President of Palau Surangel Whipps Jr.; President of Federated States of Micronesia Wesley Simina; President of Republic of Marshall Islands Hilda Heine; Prime Minister of Fiji Sitiveni Rabuka; Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese; and Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Jeremiah Manele. Additionally, he met with Japan’s Special Envoy Komura Masahiro; UK’s Minister for Indo-Pacific Catherine West; and China’s Special Envoy for Pacific Island Country Affairs Qian Bo. They discussed shared priorities and areas for cooperation while reaffirming that strengthening partnerships between the U.S. and Pacific Island Countries (PICs) is critical for peace, security, human rights, democracy, and stability in the region.
Deputy Secretary Campbell’s visit represents one among several high-level visits by senior U.S. officials to deepen engagement with the Pacific Islands. This visit builds on momentum from prior engagements such as September 2023's U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Summit in Washington D.C., as well as June 2024's Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture hosted by Hawai‘i.
