The Review of the Regional Architecture will remain a key agenda item at the upcoming 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) to be held in Palau later this year.
Prime Minister and Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Chair, Jeremiah Manele, confirmed this to media on Monday following his return from the first Pacific Islands Forum Troika Leaders Meeting held in Brisbane, Australia, last week.
“And one of the agenda items that we looked at in that role is the review of the regional architecture,” PM Manele said.
“That was one of the key agenda items of the 54th Forum Leaders Meeting, and it will remain a standing agenda item because it is quite comprehensive and will take time to implement over the next few years,” he added.
PM Manele said the Forum Secretariat has established committees in Fiji to progress the review, with one committee chaired by the Solomon Islands High Commissioner, reflecting the country’s role as the current Forum Chair.
To deliver on the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, Pacific leaders have agreed that a review of the regional architecture is necessary. The process provides an opportunity to assess existing regional systems and ensure appropriate institutional structures, governance mechanisms, and approaches to engagement, partnership-building, and sustainability.
Consistent with the 2022 Leaders’ decision, the review was mandated to consider the following key areas:
- Political setting – reviewing political groupings, leadership, collective interests, decision-making processes, and sustained political will;
- Institutional processes, systems and mechanisms – examining the frameworks that support collective decisions, actions, and advocacy;
- Governance mechanisms – assessing coordination and cooperation among regional entities and their engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum; and
- Engagements and partnerships – reviewing how the Forum engages with international partners and stakeholders to advance regionalism.
PM Manele said the Troika also discussed the Forum’s strategic outlook for 2026, as well as upcoming regional and international engagements amid evolving geopolitical dynamics involving major powers such as China and the United States.
The Troika meeting was attended by His Excellency Surangel Whipps Jr, incoming Forum Chair and President of the Republic of Palau, and the Honourable Lord Fakafanua, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, who participated in his first Troika meeting following his recent appointment.
“As Chair, Solomon Islands emphasised the importance of unity, dialogue, and consensus within the Forum, particularly at a time when the region continues to face shared challenges, including climate impacts, economic pressures, and evolving geopolitical dynamics,” PM Manele said.
“This engagement reflects Solomon Islands’ ongoing responsibility as Forum Chair and our role in contributing to collective Pacific leadership, while remaining mindful of our national priorities and circumstances,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Troika also heard from Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Hon Chris Bowen, who provided an update on preparations for the COP31 Summit, which is expected to be hosted in the Pacific.
PM Manele said Fiji and Palau have offered to host the Pre-COP31 Summit.
“The idea is for the pre-COP31 Summit to be held in Fiji, with a side visit to Palau so leaders can witness first-hand the impacts of climate change on small island nations,” he said.
He added that a series of technical meetings will also form part of the Pre-COP31 process in the Pacific.
However, ahead of the PIF Leaders Meeting in Palau, the United States will host an investment forum in Honolulu, Hawaii, later this month.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
Solomon Star, Honiara
