Pacific Island leaders have formally endorsed the Ocean of Peace Declaration in Honiara, marking a historic step in uniting the Blue Pacific as a zone of peace free from conflict, coercion, and external rivalry. The endorsement underscores a collective commitment to peace, respect, and cooperation across the vast seniority of Pacific Ocean states, a stance Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka framed as both a geographic reality and a standard of behaviour.
The signing signals a milestone after a two-year, region-wide process that began with discussions on August 16, 2023, and culminated in the endorsement on September 10, 2025. Rabuka told regional leaders that the Ocean of Peace is not merely about geography but a way of living and leading, rooted in Pacific values and in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter. He described the moment as Pacific maturity in action, stressing that the Blue Pacific Continent has spoken with clarity and authority.
At its core, the Ocean of Peace elevates a values-based approach to development, security, and diplomacy. The twelve guiding principles emphasize non-coercion, respect for international law, freedom of navigation and overflight, environmental protection, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. The framework is designed to ensure that security and development advance in tandem, rather than at cross purposes. Rabuka also warned that silence should not be mistaken for weakness, underscoring the region’s determination to defend its interests without compromising its values. He cited a shared faith and resilience as sources of resolve for small island nations navigating a rapidly changing world.
Context and connections across regional security efforts are growing. The Ocean of Peace is being positioned within broader regional security discussions, including ties to the Boe Declaration framework and the 2050 Blue Pacific strategy. Observers note that the concept aligns with ongoing efforts by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariats and partners to balance sovereignty with regional resilience, climate adaptation, and sustainable growth. The declaration is expected to influence upcoming regional deliberations, including discussions at the Solomon Islands Leaders Meeting, where formal adoption or further refinement could take place.
Beyond the policy framework, Rabuka’s push places emphasis on practical security and development instruments that echo the Pacific Way—dialogue, diplomacy, and consensus. The Ocean of Peace framework is linked to concrete initiatives such as climate resilience financing facilities, regional policing and capacity-building programs, and a coordinated approach to transnational threats that affect the region.
What to watch next
– The Solomon Islands Leaders Meeting, where the Ocean of Peace Declaration will be discussed for possible adoption or refinement.
– Reactions from Forum members and partner countries as they respond to the declaration and its guiding principles.
– How the Ocean of Peace interacts with the Boe Declaration and other regional security efforts, including climate resilience and sustainable resource management.
– Follow-up on cooperative projects in fisheries management, environmental protection, and disaster risk reduction that align with the Ocean of Peace vision.
Contextual backdrop and potential impact
Rabuka’s remarks mirror a broader Pacific strategy that frames peace as an active, living standard rather than a passive state. The Ocean of Peace concept has been presented as part of a long-running effort to safeguard self-determination and development while navigating climate risk, geopolitical competition, and transnational threats. The initiative is tied to the Pacific’s broader regional architecture, including a climate and disaster resilience financing facility led by Pacific nations and supported by international partners, and a security outlook that seeks to weave together humanitarian, environmental, and economic considerations.
In a region frequently exposed to external pressures and global geopolitical shifts, the Ocean of Peace offers a hopeful pathway: a united Pacific voice anchored in shared values, robust regional institutions, and concrete actions designed to protect communities, livelihoods, and sovereignty while contributing to regional and global stability.
Summary
Rabuka’s embrace of the Ocean of Peace marks a consolidation of a Pacific-wide effort to balance security with development through a non-coercive, rights-based framework. With twelve guiding principles guiding behavior and a clear pathway toward formal adoption at regional forums, the declaration positions Fiji and its Pacific partners to advance a peaceful, prosperous Blue Pacific through 2050 and beyond, anchored in unity, dialogue, and shared responsibility.
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