[ad_1]
NUKU’ALOFA, August 26, 2024 (AAP) – Efforts to promote regional unity could be tested as early as the opening day of the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meeting in Nuku’alofa.
Pacific leaders begin a five-day summit in Tonga on Monday in what promises to be the largest regional gathering yet.
More than 1,400 delegates have registered to attend, where officials and civil society organizations will discuss the region’s biggest issues.
The Kingdom of Tonga has stepped up preparations, rapidly building accommodation facilities to accommodate the influx of migrants and opening up large new school buildings for use in important conferences.
But just a few years ago, the organization was paralyzed due to the withdrawal of Micronesian countries such as Kiribati and Nauru.
Former president Sitiveni Rabuka brokered a power-sharing deal that allowed them to rejoin the European Union, thus retaining 18 member states.
Meg Keen, a senior fellow at the Lowy Institute, said the Suva Agreement had effectively saved the PIF.
“(Micronesia) has come back. They got what they wanted. They found a leader,” she told AAP.
Given the recent rupture and the importance Australia and New Zealand place on the group, both powers will seek to strengthen their positions in Tonga.
“Everyone is talking about unity,” Dr. Keane continued.
“The strong push to get them back into the forum really reflects a broad commitment by all members to maintaining the unity of the Pacific Islands Forum and the region … because they know that together we are stronger.”
The PIF will also consider adding two other countries that have been recommended as associate members – American Samoa and Guam.
One of the most significant issues – crisis-ridden New Caledonia – could pose a major challenge to this much-sought-after unity.
While some Pacific nations, especially neighboring Melanesian states, want New Caledonia to move more quickly toward independence, its colonial power, France, sees it differently.
That could cause friction for Australia, whose position is closer to Paris than Papua New Guinea’s.
On Monday morning, regional groups will meet, meaning the Melanesian Spearhead Group will come together and they may take a harder line in supporting New Caledonia, which could put Australia on the spot.
However, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will have a few days to respond as both he and New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon will miss the opening two days of the conference.
They are due to arrive separately on Tuesday evening and spend Wednesday in Nuku’alofa before travelling to the outer island of Vava’u on Thursday for a leaders’ retreat.
At this meeting, all issues will be discussed and a final communiqué will be reached.
In addition to the Pacific meetings, the summit will also feature outside powers looking to engage with local leaders.
The United States and China both sent strong delegations, Taiwan also confirmed its delegation on Sunday, and delegations from at least a dozen other countries are also expected to attend.
Another country is Turkey, Australia’s rival at the 2026 UN Climate Change Conference COP31.
It is unclear whether Tonga, a small country of about 100,000 people, can successfully meet the challenge of hosting the event, but Dr Keane is confident it can.
“You can imagine how difficult this is going to be, but like everything in the Pacific, they will succeed,” she said.
“Sometimes the microphone might not work, or the air conditioning might malfunction, but it happens… you just have to keep living with it.
“Everyone should have a great experience in Tonga and should be proud of what they have achieved as hosts,” she said… PACNEWS
Related
[ad_2]
Source link
