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# Tuvalu

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Learn More								U.S. Relationship 																									These are excerpts from the U.S. Relations With Tuvalu																			-  												U.S.-Tuvalu Relations											 
-  												U.S. Assistance to Tuvalu											 
-  												People-to-People Ties											 
													U.S.-Tuvalu Relations													During World War II, several thousand U.S. troops were stationed in Tuvalu, then known as the Ellice Islands. Beginning in 1942, U.S. forces built airbases on the islands of Funafuti, Nanumea, and Nukufetau. The airstrip in the capital of Funafuti is still in use, as is the “American Passage” that was blasted through Nanumea’s reef by SeaBees, assisted by localDuring World War II, several thousand U.S. troops were stationed in Tuvalu, then known as the Ellice Islands. Beginning in 1942, U.S. forces built airbases on the islands of Funafuti, Nanumea, and Nukufetau. The airstrip in the capital of Funafuti is still in use, as is the “American Passage” that was blasted through Nanumea’s reef by SeaBees, assisted by local divers. Tuvalu became fully independent from the United Kingdom in 1978, and in 1979, it signed a treaty of friendship with the United States, which recognized Tuvalu’s possession of four islets formerly claimed by the United States. The United States has no consular or diplomatic facilities in the country. Officers of the U.S. Embassy in Fiji are concurrently accredited to Tuvalu and made regular visits to Tuvalu prior to COVID-19 related border closures. The two countries work as partners on regional and global issues promoting peace and strengthening democracy, and their common interests include regional and maritime security, mitigation of environmental challenges, and economic development.Collapse U.S.-Tuvalu Relations															Read more about U.S.-Tuvalu Relations																												U.S. Assistance to Tuvalu													The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funds regional projects assisting communities in accessing financing, building institutional capacity, and adapting to climate change. The Climate Ready project (2016-2022) supports climate finance and management capacity by working with government partners and stakeholders to draft and implement policies to achieve adaption goals; access larger amounts of financing from international adaption funds; andThe U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funds regional projects assisting communities in accessing financing, building institutional capacity, and adapting to climate change. The Climate Ready project (2016-2022) supports climate finance and management capacity by working with government partners and stakeholders to draft and implement policies to achieve adaption goals; access larger amounts of financing from international adaption funds; and improve the skills and systems within each country to better manage and monitor adaption projects. With the Pacific Community (SPC), the Institutional Strengthening in Pacific Island Countries to Adapt to Climate Change project (ISACC, 2015-2022) is expanding government capacity to manage their climate finances more successfully and supporting the scale up of successful multi-sectoral projects to improve climate resilience. The Pacific American Fund (2020-2025) is a regional grant facility that supports civil society organizations and private-sector enterprises across the Pacific in advancing locally-designed and -led development solutions that increase resilience and improve the livelihoods of Pacific Island communities. The United States is also a major financial contributor to international and regional organizations that assist Tuvalu, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank, UN Children’s Fund, World Health Organization, and UN Fund for Population Activities.Collapse U.S. Assistance to Tuvalu															Read more about U.S. Assistance to Tuvalu																												People-to-People Ties													The U.S. Embassy in Suva, Fiji, which covers Tuvalu, opened an American Space in Funafuti at the National Library and Archives in 2018. The American Space remained open during the pandemic and continued to welcome visitors and host programs, for example, engaging youth on climate and the environment. There are multiple U.S. exchange and education programs for Tuvalu participants, includingThe U.S. Embassy in Suva, Fiji, which covers Tuvalu, opened an American Space in Funafuti at the National Library and Archives in 2018. The American Space remained open during the pandemic and continued to welcome visitors and host programs, for example, engaging youth on climate and the environment. There are multiple U.S. exchange and education programs for Tuvalu participants, including the popular Fulbright exchange program, the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), and the U.S.–South Pacific Scholarship programs (USSP). Approximately 37 alumni from Tuvalu have participated in USG-sponsored exchange programs. Virtual exchange programs continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including an IVLP project to promote intellectual property rights. Since 1994, the USSP has provided opportunities for four undergraduate and graduate students from Tuvalu to study in the United States.Collapse People-to-People Ties															Read more about People-to-People Ties															Integrated Country Strategies
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View all Department Reports and Publications
HighlightsSeptember 29, 2023
Tuvalu National Day
September 29, 2023
Digital Press Briefing with Daniel J. Kritenbrink, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Dr. Mira Rapp-Hooper, Special Assistant to the President and NSC Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania
October 7, 2022
Building Economic Inclusion via the Blue Economy Program
September 30, 2022
Tuvalu National Day
September 29, 2022
Investing in the Future of the Pacific: U.S. Assistance Continues to Address WWII-era Explosive Hazards
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