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Foreign policy expert Mihaly Sola says regional bodies such as the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) are under increasing pressure to deliver tangible results for the communities they represent as the PIF Leaders’ Meeting in Tonga approaches.
Sola, director of the Pacific Program at the Sydney-based Lowy Institute, stressed the urgent need to address key issues such as the rising cost of living, health care issues and the climate crisis when forum leaders meet in Nuku’alofa from August 26 to 30.
“There is pressure on regional institutions, not just the Pacific Islands Forum, to deliver for the communities they represent,” Sola noted, adding that leaders are likely to focus on areas where progress is possible, such as climate change and regional security.
The recent meeting of Forum foreign ministers in Fiji drew attention to a variety of issues, including unrest in New Caledonia, membership applications from two U.S. territories and the need for a homegrown climate finance fund.
French President Emmanuel Macron has authorized a Pacific Islands Forum delegation to visit New Caledonia ahead of the leaders’ meeting, with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and the prime ministers of Fiji and the Solomon Islands expected to lead the delegation.
Sola acknowledged the challenges of satisfying different regional interests but expressed optimism about progress on issues such as climate change and regional security. “It is important to be realistic about what can be achieved,” he said, noting that the upcoming meeting may not resolve all issues but could still produce meaningful results.
The 53rd Forum Leaders’ Meeting, themed “Transformation, Resilience, Pacific Islands: Building Back Better Now”, will include hand over The presidency of the forum was handed over from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to Tongan Prime Minister Huakavameliku.
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