By Pita Ligaiula in Koror, Palau
Pacific Islands Forum leaders have agreed to push ahead with major regional reforms, strengthen collective security, step up climate action and mobilise more funding for the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), Palau President and Forum Chair Surangel Whipps Jr announced following the conclusion of the 55th Forum Leaders’ Meeting.
Presenting the key decisions from the week-long meeting, Whipps said leaders had faced up to growing geopolitical competition, climate threats, transnational crime and economic challenges, but had agreed that Pacific unity remained their strongest response.
“One thing was clear. We need to seize the opportunities before us and carefully navigate the challenges ahead.
“To do this, our unity, our solidarity as a region, is essential,” Whipps said.
The Forum Chair said the leaders had reaffirmed the importance of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent as the region’s long-term guide while making decisions to move the Review of the Regional Architecture into its implementation phase.
“We have made clear decisions to take this review forward to the implementation phase to ensure that we have an architecture that best supports the implementation of the 2050 Strategy,” Whipps said.
Whipps said regional reform and integration had been at the centre of discussions throughout the week.
Leaders agreed to advance reforms to strengthen the regional architecture and also recast the Forum’s partnership mechanism to provide a more targeted approach to engagement and advocacy on Pacific priorities.
“Political leadership will always be the core of the efforts of regionalism,” Whipps said.
He said leaders had also considered political developments in West Papua and New Caledonia and would continue engaging regional stakeholders to protect peace and stability.
“We will continue to work with all regional stakeholders to ensure that peace in our region is maintained and protected in line with our commitments on the Ocean of Peace Declaration,” he said.
On peace and security, Whipps said leaders had endorsed the Regional Peace and Security Action Plan and discussed the need to strengthen regional governance and coordination.
He said transnational crime had emerged as a major concern because of its growing impact on Pacific societies.
“We have heard issues about transnational crime and its impact on our societies, and we have begun the work of resolving this collectively,” Whipps said.
He highlightedthe Waqa Moana initiative as part of the regional response.
Leaders also endorsed the Pacific Humanitarian Response Coordination Mechanism operating guidelines to strengthen the regional response during humanitarian emergencies.
“We recognise that disasters continue to beset our region,” Whipps said, adding that the new arrangements would provide “a more structured regional response in times of humanitarian crisis.”
Whipps also announced strong support for the Pacific Resilience Facility, saying leaders had secured an additional US$20.5 million in pledges during the Forum meeting.
“I’m very proud to announce very strong support for the PRF at this meeting.
“In total, we have secured an additional US$20.5 million in pledges this week,” he said.
Leaders also agreed to continue fundraising efforts, to be led by the Forum Troika together with Tonga and Papua New Guinea.
On regional economic development, Whipps said leaders remained committed to regional integration and had adopted the Kava Declaration to elevate kava as a unique Pacific agricultural product and create greater value and market opportunities.
The leaders also focused on people-centred development, including disability, health, gender and inclusion.
Whipps said leaders had endorsed a refreshed regional framework for people with disabilities.
They also discussed non-communicable diseases, which he said account for 75 percent of deaths across the Pacific region.
“These are not new issues, but remain critical to the livelihoods of our people,” he said.
“As always, we also recognise the importance of gender and inclusivity in our societies.”
Climate change remained a central issue at the Forum, with leaders renewing their commitment to keeping the 1.5°C target within reach.
Whipps confirmed the adoption of the Palau Declaration for urgent and Inclusive Climate Action to Keep 1.5 within reach, together with the Pacific Pact on Gender and Climate Action.
“I am very pleased to confirm the leaders’ renewed commitment to climate change advocacy.
“We have also endorsed the Pacific Gender Climate Pact today, which represents our holistic commitment to gender-responsive climate action.”
“Taken together, these two documents present a powerful statement of our commitment to climate action,” he said.
The Forum also discussed preparations for COP31 and the Pacific Pre-COP meetings to be held in the region in the coming months.
On ocean and environmental issues, leaders endorsed a Leaders’ Statement on Oceans to guide regional advocacy and collective action.
Whipps said Forum leaders had also moved to strengthen regional fisheries management.
“With the support of our fisheries ministers, we now have in place the Waka Manu Regional Pacific Fisheries Strategy for 2026 to 2035,” he said.
Leaders also turned their attention to the rapid development of digital technology and artificial intelligence.
Whipps said discussions focused on both the opportunities and challenges posed by fast-moving digital technologies.
The Forum endorsed the Pacific Digital and Artificial Intelligence Technology Principles, which will guide the development of the region’s first artificial intelligence governance framework.
The decisions taken in Palau place regional reform, security, climate action, economic development and new technology at the centre of the Forum’s agenda as Pacific leaders prepare to implement the commitments made during the 55th Leaders’ Meeting.
For Whipps, however, the central message from the week was regional unity.
“In these uncertain times,” he said, “our unity, our solidarity as a region, is essential,” he said.
