France has reiterated its commitment to the Pacific region during the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) with a high-level delegation led by Veronique Roger-Lacan, the French Ambassador to the Pacific. This delegation, representing French President Emmanuel Macron, arrived in Tonga on August 24, 2024, to hold significant discussions with regional leaders.
Included in the delegation were François-Xavier Léger, the French Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu, along with Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, the Special Envoy of the French President for the United Nations Ocean Conference. During their meetings with Pacific Island leaders, the French representatives highlighted several critical initiatives.
Firstly, President Macron is set to host the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in June 2025 in Nice, inviting leaders from the Pacific region to discuss vital issues related to ocean conservation and the sustainable management of marine resources.
Secondly, the delegation stressed the essential role of Pacific States and Territories in combating climate change. They conveyed France’s commitment to increasing development aid to the region by five times, focusing especially on climate-related projects and urgent environmental challenges.
Additionally, President Macron has invited the Troika of the PIF, comprising the prime ministers of Fiji, the Cook Islands, the Kingdom of Tonga, and the Solomon Islands, to visit New Caledonia. This invitation aims to gather information regarding New Caledonia’s self-determination process, which began under the Noumea Accord of 1998 and the Matignon-Oudinot Agreements of 1988, and will be conducted in line with UN General Assembly Resolution 1541, as deemed appropriate by the PIF.
France’s active involvement in the Pacific Islands Forum underscores its ongoing commitment to addressing shared challenges such as climate change, ocean protection, and regional stability.