France has reiterated its dedication to the Pacific region during the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), represented by a high-ranking 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 discuss key matters with regional leaders.
The team also included François-Xavier Léger, French Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu, and Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, the French President’s Special Envoy for the United Nations Ocean Conference. During discussions with leaders of Pacific Island nations, the delegation highlighted several significant initiatives.
Notably, President Macron is set to host the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice in June 2025, inviting leaders from the Pacific region to participate. This conference is expected to address crucial issues related to ocean conservation and the sustainable management of marine resources.
Additionally, the delegation underscored the vital role of Pacific States and Territories in addressing climate change. France expressed its commitment to increasing development aid to the region by five times, focusing on climate-related projects and urgent environmental challenges.
President Macron also invited the Troika of the PIF, which includes the prime ministers of Fiji, the Cook Islands, and the Kingdom of Tonga, as well as the Solomon Islands, to visit New Caledonia. This visit is part of an information-gathering initiative related to New Caledonia’s self-determination process, initiated under the Noumea Accord of 1998 and the Matignon-Oudinot Agreements of 1988. The mission will be conducted in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 1541, as deemed appropriate by the PIF.
France’s ongoing involvement in the Pacific region demonstrates its commitment to addressing shared challenges, such as climate change, ocean protection, and regional stability.