The 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) wrapped up on Friday evening, showcasing a week filled with expressions of gratitude, regal gift-giving, and Tonga’s renowned hospitality. The event featured a warm welcome, numerous meetings—including various simultaneous side sessions—intense negotiations, and successful resolutions on several key issues.
Tonga’s Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku took on the Chairmanship of the Pacific Islands Forum for 2024, following his country’s hosting of this year’s summit from August 26 to 30. The theme, “Transformative Resilient Pasifiki: Build Better Now,” resonated with regional leaders and highlighted the critical need for integrated resilience across Pacific communities. This includes tackling climate change, environmental degradation, strengthening economies through collaboration, enhancing innovation and technology, and addressing health and education challenges collectively.
Both the outgoing chair, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, and incoming chair Hu’akavameiliku stressed the necessity of moving from policy discussion to implementation. Hu’akavameiliku urged immediate action to ensure that the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and its corresponding Implementation Plan are realized.
The week commenced with impactful weather events, such as rain and flooding in parts of Tongatapu, and a magnitude 6.8 earthquake, underscoring the tangible realities of climate change and disaster risks that Tonga faces. Despite these challenges, the forum maintained its focus on action-oriented discussions.
One of the notable outcomes from PIFLM 53 was the creation of the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), which will be based in Tonga. This facility is pivotal for all Pacific nations, serving as a fund and management entity aimed at addressing loss and damage due to climate change. It will also focus on preventive measures to combat climate-related impacts. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pledged support for the capitalization of the PRF, which has already attracted around $137 million in pledges, though Tonga’s Finance Minister emphasized the need for a total of $1.5 billion.
Tonga’s friendly atmosphere fostered a spirit of unity among leaders as they grappled with various contentious regional issues. The fight against corruption was highlighted as a crucial area of focus, with leaders emphasizing the need for clarity on the purpose of their solidarity.
Protests also marked the meeting, particularly against Japan’s release of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific, reflecting ongoing concerns over environmental issues including deep-sea mining. Civil society organizations urged Pacific leaders to prioritize these pressing topics.
During discussions, the concept of an Ocean of Peace emerged, with support for the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) recognized, alongside plans for future training centers and a policing center in the region.
The forum also addressed the unrest in New Caledonia, with a monitoring mission planned to engage in dialogue regarding the territory’s challenges, although this mission’s schedule was postponed.
In a significant development, the final PIF Communique initially included a reaffirmation of relations with Taiwan, which was later retracted due to pressure from China, raising concerns over Beijing’s influence within Pacific affairs. Experts pointed out how this alteration reflects China’s strategy of division, potentially jeopardizing regional unity, even as Taiwan retains strong ties with a few Pacific nations.
This gathering and its outputs highlight both the collaborative efforts and the geopolitical intricacies faced by Pacific Island nations as they look to navigate a rapidly changing world.