Mark Brown, the chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), has called on Foreign Affairs Ministers from the region, who convened in Suva on Friday, not to rely solely on the goodwill of external partners. In his opening remarks at the 2024 Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting, Brown emphasized that the region is facing growing geostrategic interests and ongoing climate challenges that worsen each year.
He highlighted the need for the region to address emerging threats such as cyber-attacks and transnational crime, urging member states to strengthen their political solidarity. Brown stated that effective regional collaboration is crucial, especially when one member reaches out for support.
Expressing satisfaction with the ministers’ commitment to discussing shared priorities, Brown urged them to move beyond complacency and adopt a more strategic and assertive approach to engage with partners in achieving their collective vision for 2050.
He encouraged open and honest dialogue among the ministers to maximize the potential of their discussions. As he nears the end of his tenure as forum chair, Brown extended gratitude to the ministers for their collaboration and support during his leadership, noting it was a privilege to serve in this role.