Pacific Islands Forum head: Island region 'must remain a beacon of hope and unity'

Baron Waqa

By James C. Pearce

The Pacific Islands Forum's secretary general has reaffirmed the region’s commitment to a united, resilient and inclusive Blue Pacific Continent.

 “In a world increasingly marked by turbulence, the Pacific must remain a beacon of hope and unity," Baron Waqa said in his closing statement at the 27th Micronesian Islands Forum on July 4.

“We must ensure that the Forum’s priorities align with the lived realities of our people and the Leaders’ vision in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent," he added.

Waqa reiterated the Forum Secretariat's commitment to working with other regional organizations to strengthen its efforts in the Micronesian subregion.

He underscored the importance of coherence between subregional and regional systems.

“The Forum Secretariat will continue to walk alongside Micronesian Leaders to ensure that our work not only complements but is guided by your priorities," Waqa said. "Together, we will deepen regionalism, build trust in our institutions, and shape a future that is defined by our own terms.”

The Micronesian Island Forum, consisting of Guam, the CNMI, the Federated States of Micronesia Palau, Nauru and the Marshall Islands, held its 26th Micronesian Islands Forum Annual Meeting in Guam from June 3 to 5.

The Micronesian Forum reaffirmed the commitment of each of the participants, on behalf of their people and their governments, to establish closer ties, strengthen cooperation, and agree on initiatives for the benefit of members and the entire Micronesian region.

Maximizing partnerships with limited resources led the discussions, particularly surrounding the worrying economic outlook and environmental conservation.

Participants aim to use 100 percent renewable energy by 2050, with Micronesia by 2030 and Guam by 2045.

Also discussed were recycling, conserving marine resources, ocean cleanups and cyber defenses.

A lack of labor to fill local jobs and the skills gap remain significant problems for most of the islands participating in the forum, as does the brain drain and limited vocational training opportunities.

The need to realign education systems with the job market was deemed a top priority by forum members, as this is having a knock-on effect on other key industries.  

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The forum noted that tourism has been slow to return in 2025, unlike the rest of the Pacific.

The slow return was put down to a lack of connectivity with other tourist hotspots, a decreasing labour force and general weakening of Asian currencies.

The forum also acknowledged that partnerships are crucial in overcoming shared problems and security threats, like climate change and cybersecurity. Economic growth must also focus on reduced emissions, they stressed.

The close relationship with the U.S. was also a point of contention, as participants noted the benefits and drawbacks.

While these relations bring both economic and environmental gain, the U.S. remains one of the world’s biggest polluters and the tariffs threaten to upend global trade and supply routes.  

Regardless of political affiliations and status with the U.S., the forum recognized that all islands have access to the organization and should make the most of these partnerships to counterbalance any uncertainties arising from the Trump administration.

Waqa’s remarks came ahead of the 54th Forum Leaders Meeting to be held in the Solomon Islands from Sept. 8 to 12.

The Solomon Islands joined the forum in 1978, shortly after gaining independence from the United Kingdom. King Charles III remains the official head of state and a member of the Commonwealth.

The Pacific Islands Forum convenes annually to develop collective responses to regional issues and deliver on a vision for a resilient Pacific region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion, and prosperity, ensuring that all Pacific people can lead free, healthy, and productive lives.

The Pacific Islands Forum comprises 18 members, including Australia, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau and Papua New Guinea.

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