Prime Minister Sitiven Rabuka spoke at the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Tonga, emphasizing the importance of a unified Pacific voice, stating, “Our unity is our dignity and strength.” In his remarks during the Forum Leaders Plenary Session, he highlighted the various existential security threats facing the region, including climate change, pandemics, terrorism, transnational organized crime, labor mobility issues, economic vulnerability, and the deterioration of democracy, all while navigating competing geopolitical interests.
Rabuka pointed out that the Pacific has transformed significantly over the past two decades. He referenced the Boe Declaration, explaining that security should not only be viewed from a military perspective but also encompasses human security, economic stability, health, housing, law and order, and climate-related challenges such as rising sea levels.
He reiterated the notion that, given the relative isolation and small size of Pacific nations, these challenges are daunting, and that collective action is essential for hope and progress. Rabuka remarked on the dynamics within families, noting that differing opinions arise from a place of care and concern, emphasizing the need for unity among member nations. “Nothing must come in between us; not even rising sea level,” he concluded.