Solomon Islands is set to host the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Honiara with a notable shift in attendance: dialogue partners and donor governments will not take part this year after the government decided to defer the traditional Partners Dialogue to 2026. The move was confirmed by Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala, who chairs the 2025 Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, who described the decision as a sign of the Pacific’s growing maturity and solidarity.
The decision means longtime forum partners, including the United States, China, Japan, and other multilateral agencies, will not be represented at the Leaders’ Meeting. Forum officials say the choice prioritizes intra-Pacific dialogue amid rising geopolitical interest in the region and is part of a broader push to give Pacific nations stronger control over their regional agenda through reform of engagement rules. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele consulted regional leaders before the final agreement was reached, with officials stating that formal communications will now be sent to dialogue partners.
China’s influence has been a recurring backdrop to the debate. Beijing’s envoy to New Zealand, Wang Xiaolong, asserted on social media that Beijing bears no blame for the decision and stressed that Taiwan does not belong among the Forum’s partners, framing Taiwan’s participation as fundamentally different from that of larger partners.
Looking ahead, the Forum’s agenda is expected to cover climate change, regional security, and the ongoing reform process of the Forum’s engagement architecture, alongside sensitive regional issues such as West Papua and New Caledonia. The shift is framed as part of a broader effort to finalize updated engagement rules and to emphasize Pacific-led approaches to resilience and development.
What the decision signals for readers
– A pivot toward more regional-driven decision-making, with leaders focusing on core priorities before broadening external participation.
– A renewed emphasis on the Pacific Way of consensus and sovereignty, while still managing the realities of global power competition in the region.
– The potential implications for climate finance, resilience funding, and regional development programs that have traditionally benefited from broader donor participation.
What to watch for
– How the revised Partnership and Engagement Mechanism criteria are finalized and what commitments follow.
– The progression of resilience financing, including governance and oversight for the Pacific Resilience Facility.
– Developments around security concepts and regional diplomacy, including the status of West Papua and New Caledonia within a tighter Leader-focused agenda.
– Donor and partner reactions to the more streamlined attendance and how this affects climate finance and development cooperation.
Value-added context and outlook
Analysts say the move could either tighten regional unity or raise questions about inclusivity. If leaders translate commitments on resilience, climate action, and sustainable development into concrete programs, the Pacific Islands Forum could emerge stronger and more capable of delivering tangible benefits for Pacific peoples. At the same time, the run-up to the Honiara summit will test whether the Forum can maintain broad legitimacy and funding partnerships in a multipolar geopolitical environment.
Hopeful note
Despite tensions, the Pacific Islands Forum has a long history of resilience. By keeping dialogue open, prioritizing shared regional needs, and honoring the Pacific Way, leaders may chart a path that reinforces solidarity, accelerates climate action, and sustains momentum toward common development goals.
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