Foreign relations of Tuvalu

Politics of Tuvalu
Government Constitution of Tuvalu Law Human rights
Legislature Parliament of Tuvalu Speaker Samuelu Teo Natano Kofe Laafai Taupo Tehulu Melei Laoi Teo Boreham Kiritome Sopoaga Talama Paeniu Sualiki Taape Meisake
Executive Monarch Charles III Governor-General Sir Tofiga Vaevalu Falani Prime Minister Feleti Teo (I) Cabinet
Judiciary Judicial Committee of the Privy Council President Robert Reed High Court of Tuvalu Chief Justice Charles Sweeney
Elections 1977 general elections 1981 general elections 1985 general elections 1989 general elections September 1993 general elections November 1993 general elections 1998 general elections 2002 general elections 2006 general elections 2010 general elections 2015 general elections 2019 general elections 2024 general elections
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From 1916 to 1975, Tuvalu was part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony of the United Kingdom. A referendum was held in 1974 to determine whether the Gilbert Islands and Ellice Islands should each have their own administration. As a consequence of the referendum, the separate British colonies of Kiribati and Tuvalu were formed. Tuvalu became fully independent as a sovereign state within the Commonwealth on 1 October 1978. On 5 September 2000, Tuvalu became the 189th member of the United Nations.

Tuvalu is a very small island country of 26 km² (10 sq mi). In terms of physical land size, Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world, larger only than the Vatican City—0.44 km²; Monaco—1.95 km² and Nauru—21 km². it is the third-least populated independent country in the world, with a population of 10,507 (2017 Census).^[1] Because of the small size of the economy of Tuvalu, its foreign relations are limited to its most important partners. Tuvalu maintains close relations with Fiji, New Zealand, Australia (which has maintained a High Commission in Tuvalu since 2018), Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the European Union.

As a small Pacific Island nation, a major concern is the effect of climate change on the atolls. Tuvalu is a developing country and works with other island states, which tend to share similar sustainable development challenges, such as the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS).

Tuvalu participates in the work of the Pacific Community (SPC) and is a member of the Pacific Islands Forum, the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations. It has maintained a mission at the United Nations in New York City since 2000.