Signing Ceremony for Official Security Assistance (OSA) FY2025 Project to the Kingdom of Tonga
2025/12/5
On December 5, H.E. Mr. INAGAKI Hisao, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Tonga, and His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister Responsible for His Majesty’s Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Tonga, signed and exchanged notes for the Japanese FY 2025 “Official Security Assistance (OSA)" (project up to 300 million JPY, equivalent to 2 million USD).
This project will provide the His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and uniforms, aiming to strengthen their surveillance, monitoring, and disaster relief capabilities, as well as to boost the morale within HMAF. It is expected to contribute to maintaining and enhancing peace and security in the Kingdom of Tonga and the region, and thereby contributing to the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
Ambassador Inagaki noted that recent progress in defense and security cooperation and exchanges between Japan and the Kingdom of Tonga has served as a significant pillar in regional peace and stability. He stated, “these initiatives go beyond material support; they form part of a comprehensive approach to address the numerous challenges faced by the Kingdom. With the signing of this Exchange of Notes, we hope that Tonga's maritime security capabilities will be further enhanced, contributing greatly to the overall security of the region. The Japan-Tonga cooperation, in the spirit of mutual understanding, will foster the realization of a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific' based on the rule of law and will maintain and strengthen our relationship.”
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala, highlighted the importance of defense cooperation between Japan and Tonga, including capacity-building assistance and personnel exchanges of cadets from HMAF, and stated that this new initiative under OSA would contribute to further strengthening Japan-Tonga cooperation.
This project will provide the His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and uniforms, aiming to strengthen their surveillance, monitoring, and disaster relief capabilities, as well as to boost the morale within HMAF. It is expected to contribute to maintaining and enhancing peace and security in the Kingdom of Tonga and the region, and thereby contributing to the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
Ambassador Inagaki noted that recent progress in defense and security cooperation and exchanges between Japan and the Kingdom of Tonga has served as a significant pillar in regional peace and stability. He stated, “these initiatives go beyond material support; they form part of a comprehensive approach to address the numerous challenges faced by the Kingdom. With the signing of this Exchange of Notes, we hope that Tonga's maritime security capabilities will be further enhanced, contributing greatly to the overall security of the region. The Japan-Tonga cooperation, in the spirit of mutual understanding, will foster the realization of a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific' based on the rule of law and will maintain and strengthen our relationship.”
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala, highlighted the importance of defense cooperation between Japan and Tonga, including capacity-building assistance and personnel exchanges of cadets from HMAF, and stated that this new initiative under OSA would contribute to further strengthening Japan-Tonga cooperation.
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