France has reiterated its commitment to the Pacific region during the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), with a prominent delegation led by Veronique Roger-Lacan, the French Ambassador for the Pacific. This delegation, appointed by French President Emmanuel Macron, arrived in Tonga on August 24, 2024, to engage in crucial discussions with regional leaders.
The team also featured François-Xavier Léger, the French Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu, alongside Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, the Special Envoy of the French President for the United Nations Ocean Conference. In meetings with Pacific Island leaders, French representatives highlighted a number of significant initiatives.
One key initiative involves President Macron hosting the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice in June 2025, inviting Pacific region leaders to attend. This event is expected to cover significant issues related to ocean conservation and the sustainable management of marine resources.
Additionally, the delegation stressed the essential role of the Pacific States and Territories in addressing climate change. They elaborated on France’s commitment to increasing development aid to the region fivefold, particularly for climate-related initiatives and pressing environmental challenges.
Moreover, President Macron invited the Troika of the PIF, 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 a fact-finding mission regarding New Caledonia’s self-determination process, initiated under the Noumea Accord of 1998 and the Matignon-Oudinot Agreements of 1988. This endeavor will be executed in line with UN General Assembly Resolution 1541, based on the PIF’s determination of its appropriateness.
France’s ongoing engagement with 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.