Prime Minister Hon. Dr 'Aisake Eke attended his first in-person meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum Troika this week, in Nadi, Fiji, where leaders will discuss the progress of a range of regional priorities.

Hon. Dr ‘Aisake Eke is the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum. He said, “It was good to meet with the Troika Leaders in-person and to discuss a number of time-critical issues that the region is grappling with at this time. The global and regional development landscape is evolving very fast, and the only way we can navigate this successfully is if we stay united as a region."

Participating leaders included the incoming Forum Chair and Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Hon. Jeremiah Manele, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Hon. Mark Brown, and President of the Republic of Palau H.E. Surangel Whipps Jr.

President Whipps joined the Troika as the Micronesian representative on the discussions relating to the Review of the Regional Architecture.

Discussions included updates on the 2024 Troika Plus New Caledonia Mission report, Review of the Regional Architecture (RRA), and the impacts of the recent U.S. policy decisions on the region.

The leaders were joined by Fiji Prime Minister, Hon. Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, who welcomed them to Fiji by hosting a leaders' lunch.

The Forum Troika Leaders convened to discuss updates on key regional priorities, notably the capitalization of the Pacific Resilience Facility.

They also reviewed the Regional Architecture, focusing on the high-level political talanoa process, which will involve political consultations with Forum Leaders to strengthen Pacific regionalism and ensure a fit-for-purpose regional architecture.

The Forum Troika Leaders have agreed on the composition of the High-Level Persons Group that will lead these political consultations, and the proposed composition will be submitted to the broader Forum membership for consideration.

The Forum Chair added, “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. This too will shape how we refine our regional architecture to drive the achievement of our 2050 vision."

The meeting also considered the evolving global landscape and the emerging implications of the recent raft of decisions by the U.S. Government on the Blue Pacific region.

Recognising the U.S. as a valued Forum Dialogue Partner since 1989 and a member of regional agencies, the Forum Troika emphasised the importance of continued engagement to shape a future that is sustainable, inclusive and anchored in genuine and enduring partnerships.

The Pacific Islands Forum Troika will meet again in June 2025 to consider an update on the progress of key regional initiatives.