51st Pacific Islands Forum

The 51st Pacific Islands Forum was a meeting of the heads of state and heads of government of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), which was held in Suva, Fiji from 11 to 14 July 2022. The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister of Fiji, Frank Banimarama.

The meeting led up to the launch of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

Background 

The meeting was originally scheduled for 4–7 August 2020 but was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, before it was further shifted to its current July 2022 date. A high-level political dialogue was held earlier on 7 June 2022 between several Pacific Island countries which addressed China's economic and security deal and the PIF leadership crisis. Work to reunite the Forum were to formally conclude during the meeting. Increased geopolitical tensions between the United States and China also saw a surge of diplomatic visits to Fiji and the Forum. The Forum Foreign Ministers meetings which precedes the 51st Pacific Islands Forum was held on 8 July 2022.

Issues 
Several issues were discussed during the meeting including the climate crisis. The Forum also recognized the escalating geopolitical competition between China and the United States and its allies in the Pacific region.

 Climate crisis.
 Geopolitical tensions.
 Mending the PIF leadership rift.
 Covid-19 recovery.
 Protecting the ocean.
 Vanuatu's ICJAO bid.

Participants 
Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern, heads of government of the two largest participating countries in the Forum attended the meeting. The United States, China and dialogue partners of the Forum were excluded from attending the meeting to ensure that "Pacific leaders had space to resolve issues and decide on their key priorities without having to simultaneously navigate meetings with powerful outside players jostling for influence". Nevertheless, Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris addressed the Forum virtually on 13 July 2022 which was seen as a blow to China which was not granted the same privilege.

Participating leaders

Absent leaders 
On 9 July 2022, President of Kiribati Taneti Maamau confirmed that his country has withdrawn from the Pacific Islands Forum "with immediate effect" and therefore will not be participating in the meeting. President of the Marshall Islands David Kabua could not attend the meeting because of a "legislatively-binding action" to terminate the country's membership in the Forum. Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown also pulled out to focus on the election while President of Nauru Lionel Aingimea could not attend due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Nauru.

Results 
The Forum leaders endorsed the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. The strategy outlined ten commitments across seven focus areas which is important for sustainable development:

 Political leadership and regionalism.
 People-centered development.
 Peace and security.
 Resource and economic development.
 Climate change and disasters.
 Ocean and environment.
 Technology and connectivity.

Footnotes

References

External links 
 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent – full strategy document endorsed by regional heads of governments on 14 July 2022.

2022 in Fiji
2022 in international relations
2022 conferences
2022 in Oceania
Pacific Islands Forum