Lord Fakafanua, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, is currently in Latvia at the invitation of the Speaker of the Saeima (Latvian Parliament) and the Government of Latvia for the Third Parliamentary Summit on the Crimea Platform, held on October 23 and 24, 2025, organized by the Saeima and the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada (Parliament).
The Parliamentary Summit on the Crimea Platform unites international parliamentary leaders to strengthen support for Ukraine against ongoing aggression from Russia. It emphasizes the importance of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and promotes collective action and diplomatic solutions. The summit also encourages collaboration amongst political leaders to address the broader implications of the conflict on global security and humanitarian issues.
It has brought together over 50 Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments from the UK, EU member countries, South America, Asia, Africa, and prominent international parliamentary organizations such as the EU Parliament, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
As the only representative from the South Pacific to attend this crucial summit——Lord Fakafanua’s presence was warmly welcomed as it demonstrates Tonga's strong commitment to using multilateralism and parliamentary diplomacy to promote peace. Tonga has always stood in solidarity with Ukraine, reinforcing our stance against aggression and advocating for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that are fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter.
The Speaker advocated that the only way to maintain global peace is through observing the international rules-based norms and order. He informed the Summit that “…as a nation that values peace, sovereignty and stability, Tonga firmly believes that aggression, the violation of territorial integrity, and the illegal annexation of sovereign territories should have no place in the world order of the twenty-first century. We must collectively stand against such actions and advocate for a world where multilateralism and diplomacy triumphs over conflict.”
On the margins of the Summit, the Speaker engaged in important bilateral meetings with the Speaker of the Latvian Saeima, the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Latvian UN Security Council Task Force Director as he campaigns for Latviaʻs candidacy on the United Nations Security Council. The Speaker also had an opportunity to meet Latvian Head of Strategic Communications Coordination Department. All these discussions focused on building parliamentary and diplomatic ties between our two countries and identifying means for cooperation.
During his brief visit, the Speaker also visited the Department of Latvia’s State Forests, the RigaTech Girls Community, and the Latvian Museum of Occupation. At the Department of State Forests, he gained insights into sustainable business models and conservation efforts that contribute to Latvia’s thriving forest industry.
Engaging with the RigaTech Girls Community highlighted Latvia's commitment to digital empowerment and resilience and opportunities were identified to connect them with Women in ICT in Tonga.
His visit to the Latvian Museum of Occupation was deeply moving as he learned about Latvia's difficult history and the resilience of its people, reinforcing the importance of supporting the Parliamentary Summit and the Crimea Platform.
The Lord Speaker is accompanied at the Summit by Legislative Counsel, Ms. Silivia ‘Atiola. The Tongan delegation’s attendance is fully funded by the Government of Latvia.