Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku says there was a strong public interest in the plan to establish a US Embassy in Tonga.
He said he would raise it again with the US authorities during the Pacific Island leaders meeting which will be hosted by the US President Joe Biden at the White House next week.
He said a team from the US arrived in Tonga recently and surveyed a “possible site” for the embassy to start with before moving to a “permanent site”.
“It is understood they pushed to speed it up”, the Prime Minister said.
He said he would “reemphasise” the plan for the ambassy when he met the US authorities in Washington.
“Especially the visa, consulate services if they can start with that before the full embassy”.
The Pacific island leaders meeting comes as Washington accelerates diplomatic efforts to counter China’s presence in the region.
The 28-29 September meeting will be the first US-Pacific Island Country summit.
“The summit will demonstrate the United States’ deep and enduring partnership with Pacific Island countries and the Pacific region that is underpinned by shared history, values, and people-to-people ties.”
The US has invited the 12 fully independent Pacific Island countries, but not New Zealand, Australia, Cook Islands, Niue, New Caledonia or French Polynesia.
