France has reiterated its dedication to the Pacific region during the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), which took place with a high-ranking delegation led by Veronique Roger-Lacan, the French Ambassador for the Pacific. The delegation was sent by French President Emmanuel Macron and arrived in Tonga on August 24, 2024, to hold crucial discussions with regional leaders.
The team included François-Xavier Léger, the French Ambassador to Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu, along with Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, the Special Envoy of the French President for the United Nations Ocean Conference. During meetings with Pacific Island leaders, the French representatives highlighted several significant initiatives.
Firstly, President Macron will host the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in June 2025 in Nice, with leaders from the Pacific invited to participate. This conference is expected to focus on vital issues related to ocean conservation and sustainable marine resource management.
Secondly, the delegation underscored the vital role of Pacific States and Territories in combating climate change. They stated that France is committed to increasing development aid to the region by five times, concentrating on climate-related projects and urgent environmental challenges.
Additionally, President Macron invited the Troika of the PIF, which includes the prime ministers of Fiji, the Cook Islands, Tonga, and the Solomon Islands, to travel to New Caledonia. This invitation is part of a fact-finding mission related to New Caledonia’s self-determination process, initiated in line with the Noumea Accord of 1998 and the Matignon-Oudinot Agreements of 1988. This 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 underscores its commitment to addressing shared challenges such as climate change, ocean protection, and regional stability, as evidenced by its active participation in the Pacific Islands Forum.