Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, has been promoting the message of peace in the Pacific region at two prominent global meetings: the United Nations General Assembly and the U.S-Pacific Island Forum Leaders Summit.
Prime Minister Rabuka’s advocacy for peace in the Pacific comes at a crucial juncture when the world is grappling with a multitude of challenges, including the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising geopolitical tensions.
As one of the longest-serving leaders in the region, Prime Minister Rabuka is committed to advancing the ideal of ‘the zone of peace’ in a world marked by growing geopolitical tensions.
In his powerful addresses at these international gatherings, Prime Minister Rabuka has underscored the pressing need for peace and cooperation in the Pacific as escalating geopolitical rivalries threaten stability worldwide.
“Growing geopolitical rivalry is contributing to escalating tensions around the world; instead of leveraging multilateral determination to overcome the poly-crises that threaten us. We are now living in an unpredictable world. We hope we can survive these ‘interesting times.”
Prime Minister Rabuka emphasised the collective effort required to address the enormous challenges of our time, highlighting the unpredictable global environment that affects not only sovereign nations but the entirety of humanity.
He lamented that instead of harnessing global cooperation to manage shared challenges and associated risks, growing geopolitical rivalries are exacerbating tensions.
The Prime Minister stressed the pivotal role of the Blue Pacific in these escalating geopolitical tensions and noted that the Pacific region, since the end of World War II, had finally enjoyed a period of peace.
However, today, the Pacific faces renewed and complex geopolitical competition, with climate change identified as a significant threat to peace and security in the region.
Climate change, a global challenge that respects no borders, poses an existential threat to Pacific nations.
Prime Minister Rabuka called for collective action to address this critical issue, emphasising that no country in the Pacific is exempt from its impacts.
The Prime Minister’s message resonated with leaders and stakeholders at both the UN General Assembly and the U.S-Pacific Island Forum Leaders Summit.
He urged a return to multilateral cooperation, emphasizing the importance of diplomacy and collaboration to overcome the challenges of our time.
His commitment to fostering peace in the Pacific underscores the significance of regional stability in the face of global uncertainties.
SOURCE: FIJI GOVT/PACNEWS
