Kiribati back in the Forum
Kiribati will rejoin the Pacific Islands Forum after Forum Chair, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s state visit to Tarawa this month. That visit started with a handshake between Rabuka and Kiribati President,
Pacific Islands Forum
Kiribati to return to Pacific Islands Forum
Kiribati will return to the Pacific Islands Forum. Forum Chair, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says his office has now received a letter confirming this intention from Kiribati President, Taneti Maamau. Rabuka
Fiji, Kiribati restore ‘trust, respect and understanding’
Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s state visit to Kiribati yesterday started with a handshake with Kiribati President, Taneti Maamau, and ended with an embrace. This morning Rabuka described the visit, his first
Rabuka to visit Kiribati in a bid to heal family relations
Fiji’s Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka flies to Kiribati on Friday morning to meet with President Taneti Maamau and discuss Kiribati’s membership of the Pacific Islands Forum, amongst other issues. The visit is
Japan offers to meet Pacific leaders over ocean dumping plan
A month away from the expected discharge of treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean, Japan has offered to meet a high-level delegation from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in its attempt to assure that the
Pacific leaders to identify the next PIF Secretary General soon
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) says it will continue to ‘offer an olive branch to Kiribati’ as the five-member Micronesia nation grouping prepares to name a candidate to replace Henry Puna as Secretary
Opinion: Japan must work with the Pacific to find a solution to the Fukushima water release issue – otherwise we face disaster
Over the past 20 months, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members have been in dialogue with the government of Japan on its proposed plans to release over a million tonnes of contaminated nuclear wastewater into
Opinion: Republic of Korea-Pacific Islands relations step up
The Republic of Korea (ROK) and 12 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) opted to step-up their relations after the fifth meeting of their respective Ministers of Foreign Affairs that was held in Busan, ROK, last October.
Opinion: Declaration on U.S.-Pacific Partnership abrogates established order
The United States signed the Declaration on U.S.-Pacific Partnership with fourteen Pacific Island Countries (PICs) in Washington on 29 September 2022. Of the sixteen PICs, members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF),
Loss and damage on the climate agenda
The question of whether ‘loss and damage’ should lead to compensation and acceptance of liability is causing ruptures at the COP27 climate talks in Egypt. Loss and damage is the irreversible economic and
Marshall Islands confirms membership in the Pacific Islands Forum
The Marshall Islands ended two years of being at the centre of controversy over the possible break up of the Pacific’s premier regional organisation when its parliament adopted resolutions reaffirming its membership
Keeping the Paris promise alive: Henry Puna
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna says the pressure is on major emitters and all other G20 nations to ensure COP27 keeps the Paris promise alive. “More than any other COP since the 1.5 net zero
America’s Catch-Up Summit
Spooked by China’s influence in the Pacific Islands, U.S. President Joe Biden hosted an unprecedented summit at the White House for leaders from the Pacific Islands Forum on 28-29 September. It was the culmination of
Blandness Debilitates Regionalism
It has been a bugbear for me for some time. However, over the years, I have learned that I was not the only one being stressed by this. Others, many in fact, have been equally perturbed by this tendency for the Pacific
Fisheries businesses off to Mauritius
Seven members of the business community across the region have been selected for a business peer-to-peer exchange programme in Mauritius this month. Pacific Islands Forum Director of Programmes & Initiatives, Zarak
Guam to join Pacific Islands Forum
Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero has announced that Guam would apply for membership in the Pacific Islands Forum. “The Pacific Islands Forum is seen as the united front for all the Pacific island leaders,” she said
Pacific Fusion Centre considers security beyond geo-politics
Since their appointments as Director and Associate Director of the Pacific Fusion Centre last year, James Movick and Anna Naupa have fielded many questions about the role of the Centre: How does it work alongside
Pacific Regionalism and Astronomy
The ‘2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent’ was launched at the 51st Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting held in Suva on 11-14 July 2022. At the welcoming ceremony, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Chair, PM
Pacific to seek deferment of UN vote on Climate Justice
Vanuatu and its regional coalition partners will be seeking a deferral of the vote on the climate justice initiative to the end of 2022, to allow more time to lobby for a simple majority vote. This was conveyed by the
Oceania mourns passing of Queen Elizabeth II
Pacific leaders to attend state funeral Oceania is mourning the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch at age 96. Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna said: “Her impact
Pacific Islands Forum re-engages with Kiribati
Fijian Prime Minister and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum Voreqe Bainimarama says Forum Leaders are committed to exploring options for closer diplomatic engagement between Kiribati and the Pacific Islands Forum.
Fisheries important to recover Pacific economies
Pacific Fisheries Ministers have identified maximising value from their fisheries as key to supporting the economic recovery from COVID-19. This was raised by delegates at the annual 19th Forum Fisheries Committee