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 for the Pacific. The delegation, sent by French President Emmanuel Macron, arrived in Tonga on August 24, 2024, to hold crucial talks with regional leaders.
The delegation 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 bilateral meetings with Pacific Island leaders, they highlighted several significant initiatives.
Firstly, President Macron is set to host the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice in June 2025, which will include leaders from the Pacific region. The conference is expected to address vital issues related to ocean conservation and sustainable management of marine resources.
Secondly, the delegation underscored the vital role of Pacific States and Territories in combating climate change. They pledged that France would increase development aid to the region fivefold, particularly focusing on climate-related projects and urgent environmental challenges.
Moreover, President Macron invited the Troika of the PIF, comprising the prime ministers of Fiji, the Cook Islands, and the Kingdom of Tonga and the Solomon Islands, to visit New Caledonia. This invitation is part of an information-gathering mission concerning New Caledonia’s self-determination process, which aligns with the Noumea Accord of 1998 and the Matignon-Oudinot Agreements of 1988. This mission will proceed in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 1541 when deemed appropriate by the PIF.
France’s ongoing involvement with the Pacific region and its commitment to addressing shared challenges such as climate change, ocean protection, and regional stability are evident through its participation in the Pacific Islands Forum.