France has reaffirmed its dedication to the Pacific region during the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), led by Veronique Roger-Lacan, the French Ambassador for the Pacific. This high-level delegation, authorized by French President Emmanuel Macron, arrived in Tonga on August 24, 2024, to engage in significant discussions with regional leaders.
The delegation also featured 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. In their meetings with Pacific Island leaders, the French representatives stressed several key initiatives.
Firstly, President Macron is set to host the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice in June 2025, with Pacific leaders invited to participate. The conference will address crucial topics regarding ocean conservation and the sustainable management of marine resources.
Secondly, the delegation highlighted the vital role of Pacific States and Territories in the global fight against climate change. France is committed to increasing its development aid to the region fivefold, focusing on climate-related projects and other urgent environmental issues.
Additionally, President Macron extended an invitation to the Troika of the PIF, comprising the prime ministers of Fiji, the Cook Islands, Tonga, and the Solomon Islands, to visit New Caledonia. This invitation is part of an information-gathering mission related to New Caledonia’s self-determination process, established in line with 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 and its commitment to addressing shared challenges such as climate change, ocean protection, and regional stability are reflected in its active participation in the Pacific Islands Forum.