Pacific ‘Needs Predictability’ In A ‘Changing Environment’ – Solomon Islands Official

Lydia
Lewis, RNZ Pacific Presenter/Bulletin
Editor

Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders have
drafted a letter to the Trump administration, addressing
concerns about the United States’ support in the
region.

Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs Ministry
permanent secretary Collin Beck told RNZ Pacific that there
are significant gaps between what Washington has committed
to and what it has actually delivered in the
region.

The Biden administration promised
US$200 million in new funding to the Pacific, but the
money has not yet been delivered.

It is one of the
concerns Forum leaders may look to address with the Trump
administration as well as import tariffs and millions of
dollars owed
by the US to fish for tuna in the Pacific
Ocean.

“The world has changed…and with the United
States’ posture, we just need to keep talking and adapt to
the changing environment,” Beck said.

“The Pacific
needs predictability in all our cooperation with everyone,
and it will not stop,” he said.

Last
week, PIF chair and Tongan Prime Minister Dr ‘Aisake Eke,
the incoming PIF chair and Solomon Islands Prime Minister
Jeremiah Manele, the Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown,
and Palau President Surangel Whipps – as the Micronesian
representative – held their first in-person meeting this
year at the Forum headquarters in Suva.

Among the key
issues on their agenda were the implications of the US
tariffs and the Review of the Regional Architecture
(RRA).

The RRA is the PIF leaders’ response to the
increasing interest from a growing number of Forum dialogue
partners wanting a seat – and influence – at the regional
decision making table.

The Forum Secretariat said the
Troika leaders discussed the high-level political talanoa
process, which will focus on political consultations with
Forum leaders on strengthening Pacific regionalism, and a
fit-for-purpose regional architecture.

“The Review of
the Regional Architecture comes at a timely juncture and
gives us the opportunity to reflect on Pacific Regionalism
and what we need to do to strengthen and realise deeper
regionalism in the Pacific,” Dr Eke said.

“This too
will shape how we refine our regional architecture to drive
the achievement of our 2050 vision.”

Beck confirmed
that an eminent persons group was endorsed by the PIF Troika
leaders while in Fiji last week.

“There is a
high-level persons group that will hold more consultation
going into another phase of the review,” Beck
said.

Currently, both China and the US have dialogue
partner status along with more than 20 other
countries.

“There are dynamics that are happening that
might speed the review,” Beck said.

“There is a
process in which we are looking at all partners in terms of
having a tiered approach in terms of engaging with all our
development partners.

In relation to United States
support that has been suspended to a number of regional
entities, Beck said, it means that “the Pacific will need to
adapt and try to also try to see how to mitigate against
some of these.”

“We certainly would like to keep
working with the United States in finding a
solution.”

Meanwhile, Solomon Islands hopes the 54th
Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting will unite regional
leaders in dialogue and solidarity.

Solomon Islands is
set to host the annual meeting in Honiara later this
year.

Manele said it is an opportunity to bring
Pacific leaders together in the spirit of unity, dialogue,
and collective action.

Tavuli News reported Manele
saying that Solomon Islands has submitted a proposed theme
for this year’s gathering, which is now being considered by
the Forum Secretariat.

He said Solomon Islands wants
the theme to reflect the shared challenges and opportunities
that bind the region.

Manele said that it must speak
to the strength of Pacific solidarity and the region’s
shared future.

A national taskforce is now in place to
coordinate all aspects of the
event.

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