The 54^th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting was a milestone event for the government and people of Solomon Islands, hosting the meeting for the first time since 1992.

Held under the theme ‘Iumi Tugeda: Act Now for an Integrated Blue Pacific Continent’, it marked a significant moment in regional diplomacy and cooperation.

The decision to exclude Dialogue Partners and observers attracted media attention in the lead-up, but the meeting proceeded without incident, and the absence of partners allowed leaders to focus on the agenda at hand.

Overall, they made progress on several major issues, with some long-awaited initiatives finally coming to fruition.

Launch of the Ocean of Peace Declaration

The Ocean of Peace has been in development since mid-2023, spearheaded by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji. It sets out a vision for the region to remain a zone of peace, with principles that speak to preventing conflict, avoiding escalation, and maintaining stability across the Pacific.

In the broader geopolitical and geostrategic environment, this declaration builds on existing declarations, including the Biketawa and Boe declarations, adding another important layer to the region’s security policy architecture.

In adopting the declaration, the prime ministers of Solomon Islands and Fiji spoke passionately about the importance of peace in the region. Leaders, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, took part in a ceremonial signing of a valu (a symbolic paddle) in a display of collective commitment to the vision.

The challenge now lies in the implementation. It’s one thing for leaders to agree on a new declaration, but the real test will be in how it is carried out – particularly in a way that aligns with the region’s existing security approach, such as outlined in the Boe Declaration.

Establishment of the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF)

Another major milestone was the launch of the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF). Conceived more than a decade ago, the PRF has now been formalised through a treaty signed by 15 Forum members, which establishes the facility’s infrastructure and governance arrangements.

The facility is designed as the Pacific’s homegrown solution to the challenges it faces in accessing climate finance at the global level. Once established, it will provide small- to medium-scale grants to government, business and local communities in the Pacific, to strengthen their resilience to the impacts of climate change and disasters.

To date, about US$165 million of capital has been raised, with a target of reaching close to US$500 million before disbursement begins. With the treaty now signed, the pathway is clear to move from concept to implementation.

Significantly, the treaty to establish the facility is the first new Pacific treaty to be concluded in some time, underlining the enduring importance of Pacific regionalism and multilateralism.

Review of Regional Architecture (RRA)

Since 2019, the Forum has carried out an ongoing Review of Regional Architecture (RRA). At its core, the RRA looks at how the Pacific’s regional architecture is governed, organised and managed, particularly to ensure it is set up to deliver on the region’s strategic vision as outlined in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

This year’s discussions focused heavily on how Forum Leaders should prioritise the partners they engage with, including countries (such as the US and China) and organisations (the United Nations and the Commonwealth Secretariat).

With growing geopolitical competition in the Pacific, Forum Leaders engage with a range of traditional and emerging partners. Leaders seek a more strategic approach: prioritising engagement with those partners most aligned with Pacific priorities and most likely to deliver tangible benefits.

The engagement policy agreed by leaders in Honiara provides a framework for that prioritisation. As with the Ocean of Peace, the real test will be the implementation, which in this case is a highly political exercise.

The joint bid for COP31

As the battle to host the world’s leading climate change summit next year continues, Forum members reaffirmed their support for Australia’s bid for a Pacific COP31.

Climate change is the single greatest threat facing Pacific Island countries, and a joint Australia-Pacific COP would give the nations a strong platform to advocate for the global action needed to address the climate crisis.

Australia and Türkiye are both vying for the rights to host. A decision is expected at COP30, to be held in Brazil in November.

Looking ahead

Notwithstanding initial concerns regarding the absence of partner countries, the 54^th Forum Leaders’ Meeting will be remembered as an opportunity to progress and sign off on several critical regional initiatives. It is also worth noting that all the public sentiments to emerge from the dialogue reflected a leadership that was unified in purpose and intent.

Compared to the fragmentation that has characterised the Forum in years gone by, this year’s meeting should be viewed as a considerable success, for which the government and people of Solomon Islands, and the Secretary General and staff of the Forum Secretariat, should be recognised.

As the region prepares for next year’s meeting in Palau, attention will turn to how these declarations and treaties are implemented and translated into tangible benefits for Pacific communities.

In the wake of the historic adoption of the ‘Blue Ocean of Peace Declaration’, representatives from government, regional organisations and civil society have likened the vision of peace to a shared hymn – one the region and partners must learn to sing together.

At Building an ‘Ocean of Peace’ through Strengthened Regional Integration – a side event at the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Honiara, Solomon Islands – speakers emphasised the importance of regional and international collaboration to bring the Ocean of Peace vision to life.

They highlighted how the Blue Ocean of Peace Declaration can unite the region in tackling shared challenges such as climate change, ocean degradation and geopolitical tensions, and called for stronger partnerships, greater involvement from young people, and Pacific-led solutions.

Palau’s Minister of State, the Honourable Gustav Aitaro, acknowledged the significance of the Declaration, which was adopted by Forum Leaders on Wednesday.

“The ocean connects all of us, so it’s our responsibility to ensure that we provide peace and security to our communities,” Minister Aitaro said.

“It’s very important at this time that we come together… We’re all Pacific Island brothers and sisters, and we’ve proven it.”

Minister Aitaro also stressed the importance of cooperation with international partners, noting “we cannot do this alone”, and suggested they should sign the Declaration next year.

“External partners should also understand, they should also learn that they are also responsible to be with us on this path towards peace and keeping peace in the Pacific.

“Anything that happens outside of the Pacific, we suffer the most. We emit the least, we suffer the most. And if there’s a conflict somewhere, we suffer by inflation. So, everything that happens outside of us is affecting us, maybe tenfold.

“In order to have our dialogue partners understand, we have to show them the leaders have spoken. They have spoken on behalf of their people, their community, their youth, their faith-based organisations. That’s why they signed on to the Declaration.

“The Declaration should be disseminated to all our dialogue partners and development partners to understand that the region is concerned, and now they have spoken. And they should follow our rules, and those rules are not only ours, they will be their rules as well.

“We’re not restricting, we’re open – that’s the Pacific Way.”

Cook Islands’ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, the Honourable Tingika Elikana, said the Pacific faces numerous challenges, including climate change and geopolitical tensions. He highlighted that collaboration and proactive support from global partners is key to addressing these issues in the region.

“Without the support and the resources of our development partners, we will face a very difficult task. To be blunt, if there is a war in the Pacific, we don’t have any navies, we don’t have armies. So how are we going to respond?” Minister Elikana said.

“We have to rely on our partners, and so we need to ask the question of them: what is peace for you in our Pacific region?”

Minister Elikana drew on a poignant analogy to highlight the need for partners to listen closely and align with Pacific-led visions, so they can move forward in step with the region’s priorities.

“We have composed a lot of hymns here in the Pacific. We have the Biketawa hymn. We have the Boe hymn. Now we have the Ocean of Peace hymn and that’s a reflection of the work that our leaders, our region has done. Now our young people have just composed something which our leaders also sing with, which is the advisory opinion. It shows what’s happening in our region, how we come together to drive these issues,” Minister Elikana said.

“The difficulty is, when we take these hymns to sing with other partners, while we are singing according to the hymn that we compose, they seem to be singing a different tune and then the hymn doesn’t sound nice.

“We need to sit down with our partners so we learn the same song, we learn the same definitions of what is an Ocean of Peace, so we can all sing together in harmony, not only for regional peace, but for world peace.”

Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Dr Filimon Manoni, observed that, in 2025, the Pacific has “mobilised in numbers” to deliver a strong and unwavering message to the global community about what must be done to secure peace in the region, and about the kind of legacy leaders must leave for future generations.

“We take leadership, we contribute to the global discourse. We influence decisions that come out of global forums, because if you stand aside, your voice is not heard, your contributions are not heard, and then a decision passes you by.

“As leaders, that would not be the ideal situation. The stakes are too high for us not to be taking this kind of approach in our discussions around the ocean.”

Dr Manoni described the Ocean of Peace declaration as “an umbrella concept” of the kind of peace the region is striving for; the platform upon which other vital initiatives and treaties – such as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the Honiara Declaration – can stand upon.

“The ocean is the lifeblood of many of us in the Pacific – 75 per cent of national budgets are from our oceanic resources,” Dr Manoni said. “The synergies around the work we do with our ocean and the Declaration of the Ocean of Peace are very, very clear.”

General Secretary for the Solomon Islands National Youth Congress, Josie-Anne Ashley, called for leaders to look inwards at issues affecting the region, in addition to focusing on the bigger picture globally.

“How can we make sure that our children go to school without interruption? Or how can we create a healthy environment which is free from contamination, and our families have enough food to eat?” Ms Ashley said.

“How can we make sure our local communities adapt to the rising sea levels and other environmental changes that are hitting us? For [young people], it’s these things that are real and more urgent.”

Reverend James Bhagwan, General Secretary, Pacific Conference of Churches, urged leaders to ground the Ocean of Peace in the everyday realities of Pacific people.

“The test for an inclusive Ocean of Peace is practical. It’s just a simple question: will this declaration ensure that life and dignity is improved for our market women, our young people, persons with disabilities, and our maritime families, and if not, then it’s not peace, it’s publicity,” he said.

“So we have to get serious about this, and we need to put people before geopolitics. We need to honour customary land and ocean rights, which require free, prior, informed consent every time. We need to prioritise locally led solutions.”

Panel moderator Dr Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen, from the University of the South Pacific, said the Ocean of Peace Declaration “affirms the Pacific’s identity as a region of peace”.

“[A region] where our ocean binds us together as one family, and where our unity is our greatest strength in responding to the challenges of the world.”

Following the panel discussion, Professor Dave Peebles, Director of the Pacific Security College, launched the Pacific Regional and National Security Conference 2025 Report. 

The report captures the insights from one of the largest gatherings of the Pacific’s security community, including the outcomes of a futures workshop on the Ocean of Peace.

“The futures report was really looking at how we can be an Ocean of Peace in 2050. There were so many good ideas for what we can do in the next few years and the next few decades to make that possible,” he said.

“I think one of the themes of the report really is the hunger for closer regional ties, and that’s been reflected in today’s discussion.”

Building an ‘Ocean of Peace’ through strengthened regional integration was presented by the Solomon Islands National University, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the University of the South Pacific, and the Pacific Security College.

Pacific leaders are confronted by a race between order and disorder as they gather this week in Honiara for the annual Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting.

On the one hand, the challenges of climate change, geopolitics, transnational crime and improving health and education for Pacific citizens. On the other, the possibility of uniting as never before – and putting the Pacific’s own stamp on the geopolitical contest of our age.

Solomon Islands is often the crucible in which Pacific regionalism is shaped: from the region coming together in RAMSI to assist Solomons in its hour of need, arguably the world’s most successful peacekeeping mission; to Solomons’ role on the frontline of geopolitical manoeuvring in the Pacific; to its choice of regional integration as the theme for the Forum this year.

Regional integration is both challenge and opportunity, with heavy implications for all Forum members – but perhaps Australia most particularly. Has the time come to invest more sovereignty in Pacific regionalism?

The Forum is the Pacific’s equivalent of the European Union. It was created in 1971 to reflect the concerns of newly independent Pacific island countries: further decolonisation; economic development; the protection of maritime and environmental resources; and nuclear testing by Western powers.

In its 50-plus-year history, the Forum can claim significant wins. As a united bloc, members have had an outsized impact on the global stage promoting their interests.

But newly independent countries weren’t interested in investing their just-won sovereignty in the sort of integration that marked the European project. And Australia, the Forum member with the resources to support an integration effort, didn’t make a grand proposal to incentivise such a conversation.

Australia pursued close migration and economic arrangements with New Zealand, but not beyond. Relationships with former colonies ended without special migration, trade and education measures in place. Australia claimed a non-discriminatory immigration policy, but the practical effect was European backpackers were gifted the opportunity of seasonal work in Australia over Pacific neighbours.

Those dynamics are now changing on both sides. Tired of the modern narrative about the constraints of small island countries, Pacific leaders have reclaimed traditional understandings of the Pacific as being made up of large oceanic states. To underscore the point, Forum Leaders boldly declared the creation of a new continent in 2017: the Blue Pacific Continent.

A constitution for the Pacific region followed, the 2050 Strategy for Blue Pacific Continent, which Forum leaders agreed in 2022. This sets out a clear vision for closer ties in coming decades.

Forum members’ approach to sovereignty and integration are necessarily evolving in the climate change age. The Pacific is leading conversations about what sovereignty beyond ancestral homes might involve. And Australia has started on the pathway to offering more creative and generous migration arrangements.

An Australian proposal for a Blue Pacific visa, or Blue Pacific passport – more akin to Australia’s relationship with New Zealand – would catalyse the discussion about Pacific regional integration. Any regional integration bargain would be a complex balance of wins and trade-offs, but a Blue Pacific visa would be the big win driving the wider bargain.

Geopolitics, and the benefits of a united Pacific block in these tumultuous times, strengthens the case for a new integration bargain. Forum leaders will put an important plank in place this week with their Ocean of Peace Declaration. The declaration is part of the Pacific’s pushback against geopolitics and security being defined on anything other than the Pacific’s terms.

The declaration sets out a holistic approach to Pacific security, reflecting Pacific culture and tradition; expectations for how external actors should behave; the climate change threat; and the importance of multilateralism and the rules-based order.

Solomon Islands’ Minister for Foreign Affairs, Peter Shanel Agovaka, has said, “The Ocean of Peace is like a beacon of light. It is important for us to see the Ocean of Peace made up of principles that will guide our relationships and allow us collectively to navigate a challenging international system.”

So, should we be optimistic Forum leaders will go beyond their standard briefs and talking points, to start the journey towards a new regional bargain?

The Pacific Regional and National Security Conference is the equivalent of Asia’s Shangri-La Dialogue. In closing that conference this year, Niue Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi posed the question of whether the Pacific would fall or rise in confronting the polycrisis of climate change, geopolitics and transnational crime.

Prime Minister Tagelagi said he faced the future with hope and optimism: having seen what the Pacific community was capable of when it came together, he was confident the Pacific would beat the challenges before it.

Professor Dave Peebles is the Director of the Pacific Security College.

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This article was first published by The Canberra Times.

Views expressed via the Pacific Wayfinder blog are not necessarily those of the Pacific Security College.

The leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) will gather in Honiara, Solomon Islands, from 8-12 September 2025 for the 54th annual summit of the region’s premier political body.

This year’s meeting carries extra significance: it is the first time in decades that Solomon Islands has hosted the Forum. For the host, it is both a moment of national pride and an opportunity to demonstrate commitment to the Pacific family.

The theme — Iumi Tugeda: Act Now for an Integrated Blue Pacific Continent (the initial phrase is Pijin for “we together”) — reflects a collective urgency around issues that go to the heart of Pacific survival: climate change, ocean health, peace and security, people’s wellbeing and digital connectivity.

Climate change is the defining concern for Forum members. Rising sea levels, intensifying cyclones and saltwater intrusion already threaten lives and livelihoods. In Honiara, leaders will sign the Pacific Resilience Facility treaty, relating to a home-grown financing mechanism that allows countries rapid access to funds after disasters. This marks a significant step toward self-reliance, with the facility expected to be operational by 2026.

Beyond finance, leaders will push to keep the Pacific’s voice strong in global climate diplomacy. They will reaffirm support for Australia’s bid to co-host COP31 in 2026 as the first “Pacific COP”, and welcome the International Court of Justice advisory opinion on climate change obligations, a product of Pacific leadership.

Another focus is climate mobility. A regional framework adopted last year guides how communities forced to relocate due to climate impacts can do so with dignity and cultural preservation. Leaders are expected to reaffirm that adaptation includes not just protecting islands but also protecting people when staying is no longer possible.

Security discussions will be framed by the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration, a regional compact designed to keep the Pacific a zone of trust and dialogue in an era of growing militarisation. The declaration builds on the 2018 Boe Declaration, which broadened security to include climate and human dimensions, and connects to the 40th anniversary of the Rarotonga Treaty that made the Pacific nuclear-free.

The declaration commits the region to proactive conflict prevention and to maintaining sovereignty in the face of external pressures. For Solomon Islands, once a recipient of a Pacific-led peacekeeping mission, endorsing this vision is deeply symbolic: it signals the capacity of Pacific nations to manage their own peace and security on Pacific terms.

At its heart, the Forum is about regional unity. Leaders will discuss reforms to the Pacific regional architecture to ensure institutions deliver on the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, adopted in 2022 as the long-term roadmap. This review is expected to shape how the Forum engages with partners, balances sub-regional interests and handles sensitive issues like self-determination in New Caledonia and in the Indonesian provinces often referred to collectively as West Papua.

A distinctive feature this year is the absence of Dialogue Partners. The Forum agreed to defer the annual partners’ dialogue until 2026, allowing leaders to focus inward while reviewing engagement rules. In practice, this signals a determination to avoid external distraction and to reaffirm that Pacific priorities must be set by Pacific nations themselves. It also reflects the desire to insulate the Forum from tensions among larger powers, particularly around Taiwan and China.

As stewards of one of the world’s largest ocean spaces, Pacific leaders will highlight sustainable management of marine resources and ocean conservation. Tuna fisheries are vital economic assets, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing remains a concern. Leaders are expected to push for stronger regional mechanisms to protect these resources.

Environmental issues also feature prominently. Plastic pollution, waste management and the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining will be debated. Nuclear concerns remain sensitive, with ongoing worries about legacy contamination and new risks such as the discharge of treated nuclear wastewater. Leaders are expected to restate their nuclear-free commitment and demand that activities with transboundary environmental consequences be handled with the utmost caution.

The discussions reinforce the “Blue Pacific” identity, where the ocean is central not only to economies and food security but also to culture and regional solidarity.

Improving the lives of Pacific peoples is a core objective of the Forum. Leaders will discuss progress in education, health and gender equality. Many Pacific states are still recovering from the impacts of COVID-19 on tourism and trade, so economic resilience and diversification will be prominent.

There is emphasis on inclusive growth — expanding opportunities for women, youth and marginalised groups. Regional cooperation in education and health remains essential, given the small populations and limited resources of many island states. Leaders are likely to stress the need for stronger collective approaches, whether through regional universities, shared procurement of medicines or cross-border recognition of qualifications.

By focusing on social development alongside climate and security, the Forum underscores that the wellbeing of communities is inseparable from the region’s long-term resilience.

The digital divide remains stark in the Pacific, with many communities lacking reliable internet access. Leaders will discuss strategies to expand connectivity through submarine cables, satellites and mobile networks. A regional digital strategy is emerging, prioritising affordable access, cybersecurity, digital literacy and e-government.

Connectivity is not just about infrastructure — it underpins education, health, disaster response and economic opportunity. Leaders see digital inclusion as critical to ensuring Pacific societies are not left behind. Coordinated regional approaches could help reduce costs, build resilience and give Pacific nations greater bargaining power with external providers.

For Solomon Islands, hosting the 54th Forum is a moment of national affirmation. As one of the Pacific’s least-developed countries and a nation that emerged from internal conflict only two decades ago, successfully bringing together all Forum leaders is a demonstration of capability and unity.

The event strengthens national pride and provides a unifying moment in a country often marked by internal divisions. For the government, it is also an opportunity to shift focus from domestic politics to regional leadership, projecting Solomon Islands as a confident and constructive player in the Pacific community.

Hosting the Forum also has diplomatic weight. Since switching recognition from Taiwan to China in 2019, Solomon Islands has faced questions about its alignments. By chairing the Forum and facilitating consensus, it demonstrates commitment to the Pacific Way of dialogue and solidarity. The summit allows Honiara to present itself not just as a participant in but as a convener of discussion on regional priorities.

The Forum in Honiara comes at a pivotal time. Pacific leaders will gather not only to address pressing issues — climate change, peace and security, sustainable development, ocean protection and digital inclusion — but also to reaffirm their unity as a Blue Pacific Continent.

For Solomon Islands, the summit represents both a test and an opportunity: a test of its capacity to host and lead, and an opportunity to showcase its role in advancing regional solidarity. For the wider Pacific, the Forum is a reminder that small states, when acting together, can shape global debates on climate justice, peace and sustainable development.

At a moment of global uncertainty, the message from Honiara is clear: the Pacific will set its own course, grounded in solidarity and resilience, charting a future where Pacific voices are heard.

Dr Transform Aqorau is Vice Chancellor of Solomon Islands National University.

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This article was first published on DevPolicy blog.

Views expressed via the Pacific Wayfinder blog are not necessarily those of the Pacific Security College.