By Pita Ligaiula in Koror, Palau
Pacific Islands Forum leaders have reaffirmed the need for stronger political leadership, greater regional coordination and Pacific-led partnerships as they push ahead with reforms to strengthen the region’s institutions and international influence.
In their 2026 Leaders’ Communique, leaders said effective regionalism remained essential to advancing the collective interests of the Blue Pacific and welcomed progress on the Review of the Regional Architecture (RRA).
They said the review was helping strengthen regional governance, improve coordination across the regional system and build the capacity of Pacific institutions to deliver on leaders’ priorities.
Leaders also endorsed revised procedures for drafting the Forum communiqué, saying the changes would strengthen Member ownership of Forum decision-making while improving transparency and consistency.
Leaders reaffirmed the importance of partners to the region but stressed that partnerships must support, rather than dilute, Pacific leadership.
They reaffirmed that delivery of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent depends on partnerships that are “genuine, durable, and accountable” and that strengthen Pacific leadership, voice and engagement.
Such partnerships, they said, must recognise and align with Pacific cultures, values, priorities and collective interests.
Leaders also reaffirmed the 2025 Leaders Policy on Partnerships and agreed on the placement of partners within the Forum’s two partnership streams as the new partnership mechanism is operationalised.
The arrangements will be subject to a review after one year, supported by an accountability and reporting framework to be implemented from 2027.
Leaders endorsed the recommendations of the Troika Review Committee, which built on the 2025 High-Level Political Talanoa Report.
The recommendations will be incorporated into the Regional Reform Agenda emerging from the RRA.
Leaders agreed that implementation of the reforms should be phased to allow for proper consideration of sequencing, resources and management, while avoiding disruption to existing regional processes.
They also agreed to consolidate the reforms and wider RRA decisions into a single transition and implementation pathway through to 2030.
The Forum Troika will have operational oversight of the pathway, with progress reported periodically to Forum Leaders.
Leaders also called for stronger engagement between the Pacific Islands Forum and regional parliamentary groupings, including the Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.
They said closer links would help build political continuity and strengthen understanding and advocacy of shared Pacific challenges.
Opportunities to strengthen those connections will be considered through the ongoing RRA.
Leaders also turned to the need to build a stronger pipeline of future Pacific leaders.
They welcomed Tonga’s ARISE 2050 Initiative (Advancing Resilient, Innovative and Sustainable Solutions for Emerging Leaders) pilot, which is aligned with the 2050 Strategy and the Pacific Centred Leadership Initiative (PCLI).
Leaders said the initiative could strengthen the pipeline of emerging Pacific public sector leaders.
They directed the Forum Secretariat to explore merging ARISE and PCLI as part of the design of PCLI for consideration by leaders in 2027.
Leaders also highlighted the importance of stronger links between regional governance and Pacific academic, policy, technical and scientific communities.
With the regional and global environment becoming more complex, leaders said the Pacific needed a more coherent and strategic approach to advancing its interests internationally.
They welcomed work on the 2050 International Engagement and Advocacy Strategy, which is being developed as a framework to strengthen regional advocacy, partnerships, development cooperation and resource mobilisation.
The strategy is expected to be presented to Forum Leaders for consideration in 2027.
The reforms, leaders said, are aimed at ensuring Pacific institutions are better equipped to deliver on regional priorities while strengthening the collective voice and leadership of the Blue Pacific.
