A test of unity: Can the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ meeting keep the family together
The Interpreter – Lowy Institute
“The Freely Associated States in the North Pacific have long granted Washington exclusive security rights over their territories; PNG and Fiji are aligning ever more closely with Australia, New Zealand, and the United States; Nauru and Tuvalu have signed binding bilateral security treaties with Canberra; while Solomon Islands and Kiribati remain unapologetic about their expanding security partnerships with Beijing.”
“Cook Islands’ political spat with New Zealand over the former’s signing of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China earlier this year continues. Neither party seems in a reconciling mood.”
“Regional fragmentation is a constant risk. In this context, even a modest, carefully worded declaration of principles is better than another fracture in the Forum’s ranks.”