France has reiterated its dedication 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. The delegation, which was dispatched by French President Emmanuel Macron, arrived in Tonga on August 24, 2024, to engage in significant discussions with regional leaders.
Accompanying Roger-Lacan were François-Xavier Léger, the French Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu, and Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, the Special Envoy of the French President for the United Nations Ocean Conference. The French representatives highlighted several key initiatives during their bilateral meetings with leaders from Pacific Island nations.
Notably, President Macron is set to host the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice in June 2025, with invitations extended to leaders from the Pacific region. The conference is expected to address crucial topics concerning ocean conservation and the sustainable management of marine resources.
Additionally, the delegation underscored the vital role of Pacific States and Territories in the fight against climate change, revealing France’s commitment to significantly increase development aid to the area, focusing particularly on climate-related projects and pressing environmental issues.
Furthermore, President Macron 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 is part of an initiative related to New Caledonia’s self-determination process, established under the Noumea Accord of 1998 and the Matignon-Oudinot Agreements of 1988. The trip will be conducted in line with UN General Assembly Resolution 1541, depending on the suitability determined by the PIF.
France’s active participation in the Pacific Islands Forum reinforces its ongoing commitment to addressing shared challenges, including climate change, ocean protection, and regional stability.