Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders have issued a global appeal for peace, calling on world leaders to uphold the United Nations Charter, pursue dialogue over conflict, and support a world free from the threat of war.
In a political statement grounded in the Ocean of Peace Declaration adopted in 2025, Forum Leaders said all nations share the aspiration of living in a world free from conflict and warned of the devastating consequences of war and insecurity.
“We, the Leaders of Australia, Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Fiji, French Polynesia, the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, the Republic of Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, the Republic of Palau, the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, the Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu and the Republic of Vanuatu (Pacific Islands Forum Leaders), extend this appeal for peace in the firm conviction that all nations share the aspiration of a world free from the threat of war, and the devastation of conflict. It is imperative that tolerance and respect for the rights and dignity of all peoples and nations be upheld,” the statement said.
The statement reinforces the region’s commitment to peace at a time of growing global tensions and uncertainty.
Forum Leaders said the Ocean of Peace Declaration reflects the Pacific’s long-standing commitment to dialogue, mutual respect and peaceful dispute resolution.
“We, the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders, declared our Blue Pacific Continent an Ocean of Peace in 2025. Grounded in the Pacific Way, the Declaration reaffirms that dialogue, respect, and the peaceful settlement of disputes, are part of our enduring contribution to the rules-based international order and to international peace and security.”
The leaders called on governments around the world to support the principles outlined in the declaration and to uphold international law.
“In that spirit, we call on all world Leaders to stand with us to uphold the Charter of the United Nations, including the sovereign equality of all states, and the rights of all peoples to exist in peace and security.”
The statement highlights the Pacific’s experience with insecurity and external pressures, noting that island nations continue to face challenges arising from decisions and events beyond their control.
“In the Pacific, our island nations know the cost of insecurity, the consequences of threats and decisions beyond our making and the importance of strong, secure partnerships.”
Leaders said climate change remains one of the most significant pressures facing the region, affecting economies, infrastructure and long-term resilience.
“Today, we are managing increasing pressures from climate-related impacts that affect our economies, infrastructure and long-term resilience. As smaller countries at the end of global supply chains, we are acutely vulnerable to disruptions and shocks, with profound impacts for our peoples.”
The leaders renewed calls for greater support from development partners and major economies, arguing that Pacific countries cannot address these challenges alone.
“We continue to call for understanding and support from our partners and larger economies, for our survival is not in our hands alone.”
Reaffirming the Pacific Way as the foundation of regional cooperation, Forum Leaders said peaceful engagement would remain the region’s preferred approach to resolving disputes and addressing security concerns.
“We affirm that, in the Pacific Way, we will always seek peaceful means to resolve differences, reduce tensions, and address the threats to international peace and security, consistent with our shared vision outlined in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.”
The leaders said the principles contained in the Ocean of Peace Declaration can help create opportunities for dialogue and cooperation even during major international crises.
“We further affirm that, by embracing the principles of the Ocean of Peace Declaration, we can create space for cooperation, dialogue, and the peaceful resolution of crises, however grave or precarious. In doing so, we create the conditions for lasting peace, stronger partnerships, and a more secure future for all.”
Forum Leaders also used the statement to reaffirm the Pacific’s long-standing opposition to nuclear weapons and nuclear testing, citing the region’s historical experience with nuclear activities.
“As custodians of a region affected by the legacy of nuclear testing, we reaffirm our vision of a peaceful Pacific, free of nuclear weapons and nuclear testing and our shared objective of eliminating nuclear weapons globally.”
The statement concludes with a direct appeal to the international community to join Pacific nations in promoting peace and cooperation.
“Guided by our shared values and our commitment to peace, we, the Leaders of the Pacific, invite you to join us in standing together for peace.”
The appeal positions the Pacific Islands Forum as a collective voice for diplomacy, dialogue and multilateral cooperation, while underscoring the region’s continued advocacy for peace, climate action, international security and a world free of nuclear weapons.
