Taiwan and Eswatini are tightening their partnership, a positive for Taiwan, which has few formal allies left and needs to keep the ones it has.

• Eswatini Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla is in Taipei for her third visit this year, this time for the founding of a new World Alliance for Disaster Management.
• President Lai Ching-te thanked her for helping salvage his trip to Eswatini in May after "outside interference" forced a delay in April, a nod to Chinese pressure on Taiwan's diplomatic travel.
• Taiwan is pitching more cooperation on disaster response, industry, public health, and training under its aid program for allied countries.
• Eswatini is bracing for a severe El Niño and welcomed Taiwan's extra rice aid, plus promises to help build public housing and boost tourism.
• Dladla said the two countries, nearing 60 years of relations, are "family," and Taiwan's only remaining African ally shows no sign of switching to Beijing.

Outlook: Expect more aid and joint projects as Taiwan works to hold onto its shrinking circle of diplomatic allies.