Pacific Islands Forum members must remain united and speak with one voice as the Blue Pacific Continent faces growing geopolitical pressures, says outgoing Forum Chair and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale.
Wale made the remarks ahead of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting and Related Meetings in Palau from 30 August to 04 September 2026.
Wale said the Pacific’s strength lies in its unity and its ability to set its own priorities when engaging with partners outside the region.
“So small, with specks, in a vast ocean, of course the ocean in itself is as of right now, we say a continent, and rightly so,” Wale said.
He said being recognised as the Blue Pacific Continent also carries responsibilities for Pacific Island countries to work together.
“It comes with responsibilities of course, on us, to be acting together, but it also comes with responsibilities of the rest of the world as they engage with us, and because we’re a small island community of island nations, we are stronger together,” he said.
Wale said maintaining regional unity and speaking with one voice was increasingly important as the Pacific navigates a changing geopolitical environment.
“And so it’s important we continue to aspire to maintain that unity and to continue to speak with us one voice as is possible on many of these challenging issues, especially nowadays in the geo-strategic contestation that we find ourselves in,” he said.
He stressed that Pacific countries must engage external partners on the region’s own terms and ensure their priorities remain at the centre of regional engagement.
“It is important that we engage with our partners outside of the region on our terms, on what is important to us, as opposed to on their terms and on their interests,” Wale said.
He said this requires the Pacific Islands Forum to strengthen its ability to anticipate developments and prepare the region for emerging challenges.
“And that requires the Pacific Islands Forum having radar capability, being able to see forward, and being able to map our way forward through challenging times,” he said.
The meeting will bring together the Forum Family to discuss collective aspirations, shape regional goals and identify common solutions to the challenges facing the Pacific.
As outgoing Chair, Wale is expected to hand over the leadership of the Forum to Palau President Surangel Whipps Jnr, as Pacific leaders reaffirm the importance of regional unity and a collective voice in dealing with partners and global powers.
The call for unity comes as Pacific Island countries face increasing strategic competition in the region, making a coordinated and Pacific-led approach a key priority for the Forum.
