Pacific foreign ministers have endorsed a new regional peace and security action plan as the region faces an increasingly complex security environment, including illicit drugs, transnational crime, humanitarian emergencies and emerging non-traditional threats.
The 2026 Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting recognised the need for a more cohesive regional security architecture supported by agile and responsive mechanisms.
Ministers endorsed the draft Regional Peace and Security Action Plan 2026–2030 for consideration by Forum Leaders at the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau.
They said the plan responds to both traditional and non-traditional security threats and stressed that implementation must be led by Forum members, reflect different national capacities, be properly prioritised and adequately resourced.
The ministers also considered a proposal by the Solomon Islands Government to establish a Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Regional Security Treaty.
The proposed treaty would bring together the Biketawa Declaration, the Boe Declaration and the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration.
Ministers encouraged further consideration of the proposal by Forum members while acknowledging that additional consultations are required.
The ministers also agreed in principle to institutionalise the Pacific Police Ministers Meeting (PPMM) as a ministerial-level decision-making mechanism within the Forum architecture.
The proposal will undergo further national consultations before being referred to Leaders.
Ministers said the final arrangements should avoid duplication, consider the capacity and resource implications for members and complement existing regional security mechanisms.
They also agreed in principle to formally recognise the Joint Heads of Pacific Security (JHoPS) within the Forum’s Peace and Security Architecture and supported taking the proposal to Leaders at the 55th PIF Leaders Meeting.
Further consultations will cover institutional arrangements, including meeting sequencing, membership, Secretariat transition and reporting lines.
Ministers also agreed in principle to the Waqa Moana concept and supported its referral to Forum Leaders for consideration, subject to further national consultations.
They also highlighted the need to address the social impacts of illicit drugs and broader transnational crime through an integrated regional response.
The Forum Sub-Committee on Regional Security (FSRS) was directed to work with relevant regional mechanisms to develop appropriate responses and provide an update to Leaders in 2027.
The ministers endorsed the **Pacific Humanitarian Response Coordination Mechanism (PResCoM) Policy and Operating Guidelines and supported their referral to Forum Leaders.
They also discussed the proposed Integrated Regional Response Mechanism (IRRM) and the Regional Operations Deployment Framework (RODF), while noting that further consultations are needed on both proposals.
The outcomes underline the Forum’s push to strengthen regional coordination and ensure Pacific-led responses to a widening range of traditional and non-traditional security challenges.
