Regional diplomacy triumphs: Kiribati’s reintegration into the Pacific Islands Forum

by Kristiana Uluwai

7th November, Cook Islands

The Micronesian sub-regional meeting warmly welcomed Kiribati to its roundtable discussion today.

The Government of Kiribati formally reinstated its positive endorsement to rejoin the Pacific Islands Forum earlier in January this year.

President Taneti Maamau expressed their commitment to rejoining and remaining with the forum amidst growing geopolitical interest in the region.

In an exclusive interview with Pasifika TV, Maamau says they are happy to return to the forum and join their Pacific brothers in making the Pacific a great place to live and work.

A lot of behind-the-scenes collaboration discussions and negotiations, including bilateral dialogue, have been instrumental in ensuring that the Pacific Island Forum remains united with all its 18 members.

“My government and my people have always wanted; we have been wanting to. Solidarity means a lot to Kiribati, especially Pacific unity, in terms of the challenges that we are having now, not only regionally but also globally. Staying together means more strength and more voice in setting the landscape for the Pacific,” Maamau said.

Pacific regionalism was put to the test last year when Kiribati announced its intention to depart from the Pacific Islands Forum.

Tensions have been high between the Micronesian nations and the PIF secretary-general's office since the Micronesian candidate narrowly lost out to Henry Puna in 2021.

Former Forum Chair and Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka paid a courtesy visit to the government of Kiribati earlier this year to relay the Forum’s apology and formally invite the island nation back into the forum.

“It’s good to see them. We sat together on the plane yesterday. It’s to see the Pacific Island Forum consolidate and move forward together, particularly at this time when the world needs to see a united Pacific Island Forum,” Rabuka says.

Kiribati’s return to the forum serves as another opportunity for leaders to collaborate on promoting the region as a region of peace. This follows a spike in geopolitical interest in the region in recent years.

Maamau says maintaining Pacific security and promoting the vision as a region of peace is an important agenda item for the people of Kiribati.

He is calling on the leaders to have a leadership commitment to making sure that the Pacific is peaceful and grows as well.

He is pleading with leaders not to compromise peace and security here in the Pacific when they dialogue with superpowers outside of the region.

Meanwhile, the Suva Agreement of 2022 was developed to endorse the implementation of recruitment procedures for the highest-ranking position, thereby formalizing the ‘Gentlemen’s Agreement’ to ensure that the role circulates among the three sub-regions.

To achieve equitable representation, an extra deputy secretary-general position will be established, with candidates from other regions being appointed to ensure continuous representation of each region within the Forum Secretariat.

The 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting will continue to address critical regional issues, with leaders and officials from various island nations engaging in discussions to promote the region's well-being and development. To keep up to date with the Forum, be sure to check out the Pacific Cooperation Foundation and Pasifika TV websites.