German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is visiting the South Pacific island kingdom of Tonga on Wednesday against the backdrop of the increasing impact from climate change.
While the United States, under President Donald Trump, is largely withdrawing from climate action, Germany wants to make it clear that the government in Berlin continues to address the fight against climate change and its consequences.
At the start of his trip to the Pacific region, Wadephul stated that Berlin wants to become a strategic partner of the regional Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), to whose climate fund Germany contributes.
Due to rising sea levels, climate change is an existential threat to the Pacific island states.
Tonga is the seat of the regional Pacific Resilience Facility, which was decided by the PIF in 2023. Germany has so far pledged €5 million ($5.9 million) for its financing.
Hereditary monarchy, parliamentary democracy
Tonga is a constitutional hereditary monarchy and at the same time a parliamentary democracy. The head of state since 2012 has been King Tupou VI.
Tonga is one of the few Pacific states with its own army, with a strength of about 500 soldiers, which also participates in international peace operations.
During an audience with Tupou, Wadephul is likely to discuss bilateral relations. These date back to a friendship treaty with the German Empire from the year 1876. Diplomatic relations with the Federal Republic of Germany have existed since 1976.