Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka used his visit to India to spotlight the Ocean of Peace, a regional framework he says is designed to push back against external pressures and global power struggles that threaten small island nations in the Pacific. He framed the Pacific as a region akin to a child being influenced from outside, yet one that deserves to be heard, and he stressed that the concept is meant to shield the Blue Pacific while keeping it united, free, and respected.
Rabuka described the Ocean of Peace as rooted in a simple Pacific truth: the world should listen when the smallest nations raise their voices. He emphasized that when a family gathers, they won’t settle to eat while the youngest is crying; in the same spirit, Pacific nations should be heard and respected on the world stage. He also noted that foreign ministers and senior officials are backing efforts to have the concept formally recognized, highlighting discussions with the International Maritime Organization and the Commonwealth as part of this push.
The plan now moves into deeper negotiations at the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, set to take place in two weeks in the Solomon Islands. Rabuka will carry a declaration backed by Pacific leaders to the United Nations, signaling a milestone for a regional approach to security, development, and self-determination.
Past remarks tied the Ocean of Peace to broader regional concepts already familiar to observers. In New Delhi, Rabuka has described the Ocean of Peace as part of the Pacific Way—a philosophy of dialogue, diplomacy, and consensus—while reiterating the goal of a draft Ocean of Peace Declaration endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum officials and prepared for leaders’ deliberations in the Solomon Islands. The concept is frequently linked to the Boe Declaration framework and the 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy, with twelve guiding principles underpinning a non-coercive, rights-based approach that includes respect for international law, freedom of navigation and overflight, environmental protection, and peaceful dispute resolution.
Analysts note that Rabuka’s push situates the Ocean of Peace within ongoing regional discussions about climate risk, security, and development, aiming to balance sovereignty with regional resilience. The initiative seeks to complement climate adaptation, sustainable resource management, and economic stability while expanding Pacific voice on the global stage.
What to watch next: how the Ocean of Peace Declaration is refined and endorsed at the Solomon Islands Leaders Meeting, how Forum members respond, and how the framework may interact with broader regional security plans and climate resilience efforts as the Pacific engages with international partners, including upcoming engagements in New York at the United Nations.
Summary: Rabuka’s Ocean of Peace agenda continues to weave together Pacific unity, non-coercive security, and regional resilience, with a formal declaration on the horizon and a push to garner international backing ahead of key Forum and UN engagements. Observers are hopeful that a cohesive Pacific voice can help safeguard small island nations’ interests in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
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