Solomon Islands Prime Minister and Forum Chair Mathew Wale has declared that Pacific leaders must take ownership of the region’s future, warning that while international interest in the Pacific continues to grow, the region’s development agenda and security priorities must remain firmly in Pacific hands.
Delivering his inaugural address at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, Wale said the Pacific was operating in an increasingly contested geopolitical environment and urged leaders to ensure that decisions affecting the Blue Pacific are made by Pacific nations themselves.
“It is wonderful to be here in Suva, and most especially here at the Secretariat – the very heart of our Pacific Regionalism.
“At the outset, allow me to thank you, Secretary General, and your staff for the warm and generous welcome accorded to my team and I this morning,” PM Wale said.
The Prime Minister said Pacific cultures, traditions and heritage remain the foundation of regional unity.
“The celebration of our cultures, our traditions and our heritage will always be the cornerstone of our connections and kinship as one Blue Pacific region.”
Reflecting on assuming both the leadership of Solomon Islands and the chairmanship of the Pacific Islands Forum, he said the regional role was an unexpected privilege.
“Assuming the leadership mantle in Solomon Islands has offered me the rare honour to lead my country and my Government in the service of my people.
“What I did not anticipate was that I would also have the opportunity, albeit brief, to assume the regional leadership role as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum.
“Indeed, words do not do justice to the privilege I carry with this role, especially at a time as important as this in our regionalism journey,” he said.
The Prime Minister said geopolitical competition had become a defining reality for the Pacific, alongside climate change.
“The fact that we are in a geopolitically contested time is no secret. Just like climate change – it is our current reality in the Pacific region.”
He said this reinforced the importance of the Forum as the region’s political platform.
“It brings to the fore the very value of our Forum Family – one that allows us a dedicated space and time together as a collective to consider and discuss issues of shared concern, ambition and vision.”
The Forum Chair said the Pacific was witnessing a rapidly changing strategic environment, with partners increasingly competing for influence.
“”Yes, we find ourselves in a fast and fluid strategic environment.
“Increasingly we see the fast-paced settlement of multitudes of partnerships and arrangements as partners tussle for influence at all levels – nationally, regionally and globally.
“We also see the increasing complexity of interconnected challenges that draw us away from our shared goals and priorities,” PM Wale said
Following discussions with Forum Troika leaders, he said the responsibility for the Pacific’s future rested with Pacific nations themselves.
“Having had the opportunity to sit with Troika Leaders over the last day or two and to engage on issues of regional importance has driven home for me the very reality that indeed, our success as a region, and as a Blue Pacific Continent spread out in our vast Ocean of Peace, lies not in the hands of others but our very own – unless we do not take ownership of our own destiny, our own future, and hand it over to others, not of our region willingly or otherwise to shape.
“This is a value we often forget when the challenges of the present time overwhelm us as Small Island Developing nations.
“Yet, it is precisely in times like these that regional ownership matters most,” PM Wale said.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the growing international attention on the Pacific but stressed that partnerships should support, not direct, regional priorities.
“Over the years, our Forum has grown in influence and stature. With that has come greater international interest in our region, our priorities and our collective voice.
“We welcome that interest and we value our partnerships.
“But we must always remind ourselves that our development agenda must remain one that is conceived, driven, and owned by the Pacific.
“Our partners should help us realise and complement our ambitions – not define, nor shape them for us,” he stressed
He said the Pacific Islands Forum must remain the political home of the region.
“As Leaders, we have a responsibility to ensure that the Pacific Islands Forum remains first and foremost the political home of our region.”
The Chair called for continued efforts to ensure Leaders’ Meetings remain focused on member priorities while strengthening engagement with development partners through more strategic dialogue.
“We should therefore continue to explore ways to ensure that our annual Leaders Meeting remains firmly focused on Member priorities, while also strengthening our engagement with our valued Development Partners through arrangements that allow for more strategic, more purposeful and more effective dialogue.”
“In doing so, we preserve what is most valuable about our Forum – a Leaders forum where we, as a region, speak first, with one voice, on the issues that matter most to our people,” PM Wale said.
He said the region’s future would ultimately depend on the decisions made collectively by Pacific leaders.
“Because ultimately, the future of our region will not be determined by the interests of others. It will be determined by the choices we make together as one Blue Pacific family.”
The Prime Minister described regionalism as part of the Pacific identity rather than simply the work of regional institutions.
“Regionalism is not simply the work of our institutions. It is who we are as Pacific peoples.”
Referring to last year’s Forum theme in Solomon Islands, he said “Iumi Tugeda – Act Now for an Integrated Blue Pacific Continent” reflected the region’s identity and responsibility to one another.
PM Wale said regionalism had enabled Pacific countries to achieve outcomes that individual nations could not accomplish alone.
“Therefore, regionalism is the currency through which we have achieved many of our greatest regional successes.
“Together, we have elevated the Pacific voices on climate change, defended our maritime zones, advanced ocean governance, strengthened our collective resilience and secured international recognition for priorities that no single country could have achieved alone.
“It is through regionalism that we transform many small island states into one Blue Pacific Continent. It allows us to speak with one voice where individually our voices may struggle to be heard,” he explained.
“It enables us to engage the world not from a position of weakness or vulnerability, but from a position of togetherness, purpose and strength. Not from ‘small island states, but from big ocean states.'”
Turning to regional security, the Prime Minister said Pacific security has always centred on protecting people, sovereignty and the Pacific way of life.
“Security in the Pacific has never been about competition between nations. It has always been about protecting our people, our sovereignty, and our way of life.
“It is about ensuring that the Blue Pacific remains an ocean and region of peace, stability, and mutual respect,” said PM Wale.
PM Wale said the Pacific had made progress through the Biketawa Declaration, the Boe Declaration and other regional commitments but acknowledged that more work remained.
“We have made important progress through the Biketawa Declaration and the Boe Declaration and other regional commitments. But we should also acknowledge that there remains work to do in strengthening the regional architecture that supports our shared security interests,” said Wale.
He called for consideration of stronger regional security arrangements grounded in Pacific priorities.
“As Leaders, we should never shy away from considering bold ideas that strengthen our collective security and provide greater certainty for future generations.”
“This includes exploring whether there is value in a stronger regional framework that reflects our shared commitments and gives enduring expression to the security principles we have agreed together,’ the Forum Chair said.
He said leaders must ensure that security decisions affecting the Pacific are shaped by Pacific nations.
“Whatever path we choose, our objective should remain unchanged – to ensure that decisions affecting the security of our Blue Pacific are shaped first and foremost by us, as a region,.” said PM Wale.
The Chair also urged leaders to protect the annual Forum Leaders Meeting from outside influence.
“We must jealously guard our leaders meeting, as the single most important regional platform that our leaders have once a year to meet – in order that it is not undermined by interests of others.”
He also proposed establishing a regional mechanism to safeguard collective security.
“We must also work together to put in place a regional mechanism that ensures and safeguard our collective security – a mechanism that will help the region achieve the aspirations embodied in the Ocean of Peace, covers the scope of the Boe Declaration and utilises the processes articulated in the Biketawa declaration.”
The Prime Minister said the Pacific’s biggest challenge was no longer developing ideas but implementing them.
“I am sure you will all agree with me that the Pacific has never lacked vision.
“We have produced bold declarations, ambitious strategies and collective commitments that continue to shape our region and inspire the international community.
“The challenge before us now is not one of good ideas – it is one of implementation,” PM Wale said”
He said implementation required all Forum members, CROP agencies and development partners to work together.
“Implementing means all members must collaborate and work together. All CROP agencies must also work together as one UNIT. And all development partners must support member driven priorities,” he said
He said leadership should be measured by results rather than discussions.
“As I begin my tenure as Prime Minister, I do so with a clear appreciation that leadership is measured not simply by the conversations we have, but by the outcomes we deliver for our people – some as a result of such conversations.”
The Prime Minister said Pacific leaders must act with urgency.
“That is why I believe we must move with greater purpose, greater urgency and greater resolve.
“Our people are looking to us not simply for statements of intent, but for tangible progress and lasting results,” Wale said.
He urged leaders to make implementation the defining measure of the Pacific’s success.
“Let this be the next chapter of our regionalism and our Pacific Way.
“One where we match our collective ambition with collective action, and where implementation becomes the defining measure of our success.”
The Forum Chair also called on Pacific leaders to rediscover the region’s opportunities rather than focusing only on its vulnerabilities.
“We need to rediscover the Pacific in a modern era which is apt for the region.”
“Too often we emphasise our vulnerabilities-geopolitical contestations and climate change etc, to the point that opportunities we have, struggle to surface. For eg, we have a combined EEZ of nearly 40million square kilometres – of what is the ocean, but land covered with water,” said PM Wale.
He said unity remained the region’s greatest strength.
“If we remain united in purpose, steadfast in our values and confident in our own leadership, there is no challenge that the Blue Pacific cannot overcome.”
“If issues become recalcitrant then it means we are problematising rather than solutionising,” he said.
The Prime Minister said regionalism must remain inclusive and continue drawing strength from young Pacific people.
“As we shape the future of our region, let us also ensure that our regionalism remains inclusive, drawing strength from the voices of all our people, particularly our young people, whose energy, innovation and leadership will carry forward the vision we set today.
“I look forward to working closely with all of you in the weeks ahead as we prepare for the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting. Our strength is unity in the diversity of our Forum Family!,” PM Wale said.
