Wadephul and the Pacific island of Niue

diplomacy

Rare ceremony: Wadephul and the Pacific island of Niue

Germany recognizes the small South Sea island of Niue as its own state. And the Foreign Minister personally initiates relations. The diplomatic act should be a signal to the entire region.

1,700 inhabitants, around 260 square kilometers: The small South Sea island of Niue lies around 4,500 kilometers east of the Australian coast, between Fiji and the Cook Islands. And around 2,400 kilometers northeast of New Zealand. On Tuesday, Germany formally established bilateral relations with the Pacific island.

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) signed a corresponding declaration during his visit to Auckland, New Zealand, together with the head of government of Niue, Dalton Tagelagi. Such a ceremony is also rare for the German minister.

“It is a special experience that I can celebrate this ceremony today,” said Wadephul shortly beforehand at a meeting with his New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters. Peters had invited Wadephul to his home district of the Bay of Islands, near the town of Kerikeri on New Zealand’s North Island.

The recognition of Niue “shows the appreciation that Germany has for this country, the importance we attach to the right of self-determination of peoples and the importance we attach to the Pacific islands,” Wadephul said. Because the Pacific islands are “particularly threatened by climate change, their existence is threatened.”

Germany feels committed to the fight against climate change, “but also to the fight for resilience, i.e. for the resilience of these islands,” added Wadephul. The establishment of diplomatic relations with Niue is a sign of willingness to cooperate in the region. China is trying to gain more and more influence there. Wadephul adds: “If China’s influence increases here, then our influence will also decrease at the same time.”

The federal cabinet only recognized the Pacific island as a separate state on January 7th. The island belonged to New Zealand until 1974 and is still a close partner of the country today. The residents are New Zealand citizens. There are no plans to have a separate German embassy on the island – the German representation in the New Zealand capital Wellington is responsible.

Wadephul may also have had a very pragmatic ulterior motive for the personal appointment to establish diplomatic relations: In June, Germany will be running for one of the non-permanent seats on the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the years 2027/2028. Even if Niue is not yet a UN member, every vote counts. Of course also those of the small South Sea states that are already UN members.