France has reiterated its dedication to the Pacific region during the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), represented by a high-level delegation led by Veronique Roger-Lacan, the French Ambassador for the Pacific. The delegation, appointed by French President Emmanuel Macron, arrived in Tonga on August 24, 2024, to engage with regional leaders.
Included in the delegation were François-Xavier Léger, the French Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu, as well as Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, the Special Envoy of the French President for the United Nations Ocean Conference. In their discussions with Pacific Island leaders, the French officials highlighted several key initiatives.
Firstly, President Macron is set to host the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in June 2025 in Nice, with Pacific region leaders invited to participate. The conference is expected to address significant issues related to ocean conservation and the sustainable management of marine resources.
Additionally, the delegation underscored the vital role of the Pacific States and Territories in combating climate change. They expressed France’s commitment to increasing development aid to the region fivefold, with a particular focus on projects related to climate change and other pressing environmental challenges.
President Macron also invited the leaders of the Troika of the PIF, comprising the prime ministers of Fiji, the Cook Islands, Tonga, and the Solomon Islands, to visit New Caledonia. This invitation is part of an exploratory trip regarding New Caledonia’s self-determination process, initiated in alignment with the Noumea Accord of 1998 and the Matignon-Oudinot Agreements of 1988. The mission will be executed in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 1541, as deemed appropriate by the PIF.
France’s ongoing involvement in the Pacific region and its commitment to addressing shared challenges such as climate change, ocean conservation, and regional stability are evident through its active participation in the Pacific Islands Forum.