Tuvalu-United States relations
Encyclopedia
Tuvalu – United States relations are bilateral relations between Tuvalu
and the United States
.
Relations between the two countries are generally very good, but there have been notable disagreements regarding the issues of climate change
and the Kyoto Protocol
. Tuvalu and the United States maintain official diplomatic relations, although there is no US embassy in Funafuti
, and no Tuvaluan embassy in Washington
. The United States ambassador to Fiji
is accredited to Tuvalu. Tuvalu maintains a diplomatic presence in the United States through its Permanent Mission to the United Nations
, in New York
.
The main point of friction between Tuvalu and the United States has been the latter's non-ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. Tuvalu is suffering severe environmental damage due to climate change, and has repeatedly urged the United States to do more to reduce its pollution levels. In 2002, Tuvaluan Prime Minister Koloa Talake
threatened to take the United States to the International Court of Justice
for its refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. He was prevented from doing so by his subsequent defeat in that year's general election
. More recently, in 2007, Tuvalu's Deputy Prime Minister Tavau Teli called upon all countries to "make an effort to reduce their emissions before it is too late for countries like Tuvalu".
On other matters, Tuvalu supports American positions very often, such as human rights and security measures and development.
Tuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Relations between the two countries are generally very good, but there have been notable disagreements regarding the issues of climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
and the Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , aimed at fighting global warming...
. Tuvalu and the United States maintain official diplomatic relations, although there is no US embassy in Funafuti
Funafuti
Funafuti is an atoll that forms the capital of the island nation of Tuvalu. It has a population of 4,492 , making it the most populated atoll in the country. It is a narrow sweep of land between 20 and 400 metres wide, encircling a large lagoon 18 km long and 14 km wide, with a surface of...
, and no Tuvaluan embassy in Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. The United States ambassador to Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
is accredited to Tuvalu. Tuvalu maintains a diplomatic presence in the United States through its Permanent Mission to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
The main point of friction between Tuvalu and the United States has been the latter's non-ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. Tuvalu is suffering severe environmental damage due to climate change, and has repeatedly urged the United States to do more to reduce its pollution levels. In 2002, Tuvaluan Prime Minister Koloa Talake
Koloa Talake
The Rt Hon Koloa Talake is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu.-Prime Minister of Tuvalu:He served as the seventh Prime Minister of Tuvalu for nine months, 14 December 2001-2 August 2002, after defeating Faimalaga Luka in a vote of no confidence.Talake was defeated in elections in...
threatened to take the United States to the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
for its refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. He was prevented from doing so by his subsequent defeat in that year's general election
Tuvaluan general election, 2002
General elections were held in Tuvalu on 25 July 2002. All candidates were independents, as there are no political parties in the country. Saufatu Sopoanga was appointed Prime Minister after the election as previous PM Koloa Talake lost his seat.-Results:...
. More recently, in 2007, Tuvalu's Deputy Prime Minister Tavau Teli called upon all countries to "make an effort to reduce their emissions before it is too late for countries like Tuvalu".
On other matters, Tuvalu supports American positions very often, such as human rights and security measures and development.
External links
- History of Tuvalu - U.S. relations
- Official website of the United States embassy in Fiji. The US ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu.
- Address of the Permanent Mission of Tuvalu to the United Nations, Tuvalu's only diplomatic presence in the United States.