23 May 2026
Honiara, Solomon Islands: Forum Foreign Ministers convened virtually on Friday, 22 May 2026, for a Special Session of the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting (FFMM), where they endorsed the regional response mechanism to the emerging energy crisis affecting Pacific economies, communities, and essential services.
The meeting was chaired from Honiara by the Solomon Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Honourable Rick Houenipwela, with the support of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Baron Divavesi Waqa.
The Special Session followed the decision of Forum Leaders last month to invoke the Biketawa Declaration to establish a collective regional mechanism to guide the Forum’s response to the evolving crisis.
Ministers shared national experiences and highlighted the growing pressures facing Pacific communities as a result of rising energy costs, fuel supply uncertainty, and wider disruptions linked to the prolonged Middle East conflict. They noted that these pressures are being felt across key sectors, including transport, shipping, aviation, public services, and household livelihoods.
“The decision by Leaders to invoke the Biketawa Declaration, and to convene this Special Session of the FFMM, reflects the seriousness with which the Forum is approaching this evolving situation,” said the Chair of the FFMM, Honourable Houenipwela. “It also reinforces the importance of regional solidarity, effective coordination, and timely collective action as developments continue to unfold.”
Secretary General Waqa said the discussions underscored the vulnerability of the Blue Pacific to external shocks and the importance of working together as one region.
“As highlighted through the regional assessments undertaken by our regional agencies, our Blue Pacific remains highly exposed to external shocks transmitted through global fuel markets, maritime supply chains, and international aviation systems,” Secretary General Waqa said.
“These pressures are now beginning to intersect across Pacific economies, with direct implications on essential services, connectivity, economic resilience and the livelihoods of our people.”
Ministers acknowledged the work undertaken by the agencies of the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) through the establishment of a dedicated CROP Taskforce in recent weeks to compile regional data, analysis, and advice to support informed decision-making by Leaders under the Biketawa Declaration.
The meeting also reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to collective action in times of regional challenges. It also underscored the continuing relevance of the Biketawa Declaration as a mechanism for Pacific-led coordination, solidarity, and practical response.
As the situation continues to evolve, Forum Members will remain closely engaged to ensure that the region’s response is timely and firmly grounded in the shared priorities and interests of Pacific peoples.
