Regionalism challenged as Kiribati withdraws from Pacific Islands Forum

By Staff Reporters

APIA, SAMOA – 11 JULY 2022: The 51^st Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting opening today in Suva, Fiji, is supposed to mend regionalism, but hits a snag as Kiribati, one of the five Micronesian countries who threatened to withdraw from the Forum last year, has stuck to that decision.

A leaked copy of a letter from the President of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau to the Forum Secretary, Henry Puna, dated 9 July, reveal the reasons for Kiribati’s decision not attend.

It goes back last years rift that developed when the five Micronesian member countries — the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Kiribati and Nauru — threatened to withdraw from the Forum over the selection of the Forum’s new Secretary-General.

The Micronesians felt let down when the PIF selected former Cook Islands Prime Minister, Henry Puna, when it was their turn and aired their concerns over unequal representation.

President of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau and the Forum Secretary, Henry Puna.

But early last month – June, Pacific Island leaders struck a deal to keep Micronesia in the PIF in a compromise was reached through dialogue and inclusive consensus-building rooted in Pacific Island cultures.

The deal is expected to be signed at the Suva meeting this week – to formalize the gentleman’s agreement in writing, ensure that a Micronesian candidate succeeds Puna as Secretary-General, and introduce other changes to bolster Micronesian inclusion.

Micronesian countries’ continuing role in the PIF would be a positive sign for Pacific regionalism, as they comprise about a third of forum members.

Micronesia also represents a counterweight to China’s growing influence in the Pacific as three out of four of Taiwan’s remaining Pacific partners are Micronesian. And Micronesian leaders — including Panuelo — have delivered some of the strongest criticisms of China’s increased security engagement with the region.

In a leaked letter to Secretary General of the forum, Kiribati President, Taneti Maamau referred to four key reasons.

These included the regions “reluctance” to address concerns over the appointment of Cook Islander, Henry Puna to the secretary general role, despite it being promised to Micronesia.

Copy o the Kiribati President’s letter to Puna.

Concerns were also raised over reform packages made under the Suva agreement last month, which aimed to restore political unity and encourage Micronesian countries to remain in the forum. The Kiribati President said his country did not sign the deal.

“There was never a Micronesian Presidents’ Summit (MPS) caucus decision on the PIF reform packages that Kiribati was part of, and particularly an MPS collective decision to return to the PIF,” he said.

The President also requested for the forum to be deferred, due to it coinciding with Kiribati’s National day, but said this request was never considered or acknowledged.

“Solidarity and unity as a region is dependent on how we treat each other with profound respect and understanding,” Maamau’s said.

Issues to be discussed
The 51^st Leaders Meeting brings together most of the Pacific leaders from 18 member countries, including Australia and New Zealand for a face-to face meetings for the first time since 2019 to discuss a host of issues affecting the region.

The host, the Fiji Government sees it as one of the most significant events in recent history as the region gradually emerges from the grips of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Fiji police prepare for 51st Pacific Islands Forum Meeting opening today.

The Fiji Government sees the meeting as “an opportunity to strengthen relationships and reset goals and priorities for regionalism and collective action as a Forum Family”.

For the forum’s chair, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, the occasion “is an opportunity to celebrate 50 years of Pacific regionalism through the Pacific Islands Forum and to reflect on and honour what it means to work together towards shared aspirations and objectives”.

The meeting in Suva is expected to conclude with the launch of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which according to the Forum Secretariat, has been developed over three years after wide consultation across the region.

While the climate crisis remains the number one security issue for forum leaders, they recognise the increasing interests from major powers – in China and the United States and its allies, including Australia, all of whom are contesting for greater influence in the Blue Pacific.

Samoa’s delegation is led by the Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa and comprise the Minister of Finance, Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molioo, the Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao and officials.