France has reinforced its dedication to the Pacific region during the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), sending a high-level delegation led by Veronique Roger-Lacan, the French Ambassador for the Pacific. The delegation, representing French President Emmanuel Macron, arrived in Tonga on August 24, 2024, to engage in crucial discussions with leaders from the region.
The delegation also featured François-Xavier Léger, the French Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu, alongside Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, the French President’s Special Envoy for the United Nations Ocean Conference. In meetings with Pacific Island leaders, the French officials highlighted several significant initiatives.
One key point discussed was President Macron’s upcoming hosting of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice in June 2025, to which Pacific leaders have been invited. The conference is expected to address vital issues concerning ocean conservation and sustainable management of marine resources.
Additionally, the delegation underscored the essential role of Pacific States and Territories in combating climate change. They announced France’s commitment to increasing development aid to the region fivefold, with a focus on climate-related and pressing environmental projects.
President Macron also invited the PIF Troika, which includes the prime ministers of Fiji, the Cook Islands, the Kingdom of Tonga, and the Solomon Islands, to visit New Caledonia. This invitation is part of an effort to gather information related to New Caledonia’s self-determination process, initiated under the Noumea Accord of 1998 and the Matignon-Oudinot Agreements of 1988. The trip will align with UN General Assembly Resolution 1541, to be undertaken at the PIF’s discretion.
France’s proactive engagement in the Pacific Islands Forum highlights its ongoing commitment to addressing shared challenges such as climate change, ocean protection, and regional stability.