In the 2000s, Cuba has been strengthening its relations with Pacific nations, which have, for the most part, responded favorably to Cuban medical aid in particular.

[18] Cuban doctors have reportedly provided a dramatic improvement to the field of medical care in Kiribati, reducing the child mortality rate in that country by 80%,[19] and winning the proverbial hearts and minds in the Pacific.

In response, the Solomon Islands began recruiting Cuban doctors in July 2007, while Papua New Guinea and Fiji considered following suit.

They had reportedly "attended 3,496 patients, and saved 53 lives", having "opened ultrasound and abortion services, as well as specialized consultations on hypertension, diabetes, and chronic diseases in children".

They had visited all the country's islands, and were training local staff in "primary health care, and how to deal with seriously ill patients, among other subjects".

[22] In 2010, Vunibobo's successor, Peter Thomson, visited Cuba, where he discussed "areas of co-operation in the medical field" with the Cuban authorities.

This visit came as of Fiji's attempt to broaden its diplomatic relations, following a fall-out with Australia and New Zealand in the wake of the 2006 military coup.

[41] Cuba's first ambassador accredited to Tonga, Jose Luis Robaina (based in New Zealand), presented his credentials to King George Tupou V in March 2009.

Ambassador Robaina and King George were reported to have discussed "strengthen[ing] bilateral cooperation, especially in health, education, sports, agriculture and human resource training".

Xinhua reported that the King had praised Cuba's "social breakthroughs, the quality of its ballet and culture in general and its impressive achievements in public health".

[9] Tonga's initial ambassador accredited to Cuba was its Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu, until April 2009,[42] when Sonatane Tu'a Taumoepeau Tupou succeeded her to the position.

[43] Cuba assists Tuvalu in a variety of ways, but its principal aid is provided in the form of health services.

The two nations established formal diplomatic relations in 1983, at a time when ni-Vanuatu Prime Minister Walter Lini was constructing his country's resolutely non-aligned foreign policy.