France has reiterated its commitment to the Pacific region during the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), represented by a high-level delegation headed 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 engage in critical discussions with regional leaders.
Included in the delegation were François-Xavier Léger, the French Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu, and Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, the Special Envoy for the United Nations Ocean Conference. During their meetings with leaders from the Pacific Islands, the French representatives highlighted several initiatives.
Firstly, they announced that President Macron will host the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice in June 2025, with invitations extended to Pacific region leaders. This conference is expected to address significant issues related to ocean conservation and sustainable management of marine resources.
Secondly, the delegation stressed the pivotal role of Pacific States and Territories in combating climate change. They committed to increasing development aid to the region by a factor of five, focusing particularly on projects related to climate change and urgent environmental challenges.
Additionally, President Macron invited the Troika of the PIF—comprising the prime ministers of Fiji, the Cook Islands, Tonga, and the Solomon Islands—to visit New Caledonia. This visit is part of an information-gathering mission concerning New Caledonia’s self-determination, initiated 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 when 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 protection, and regional stability were clearly demonstrated through its active participation in the Pacific Islands Forum.