REMARKS: PIF Chair, Hon Jeremiah Manele, at Troika Press Conference

Aftanun olketa, and warm Pacific greetings to the members of media present here.

It is an honour to address you today following the successful conclusion of the 2025 Forum Leaders Meeting here in Honiara.  I am also pleased to be joined here by my fellow Troika colleagues, the Hon. Prime Minister from Tonga, Dr. Eke, and the Hon. Minister Aitaro from Palau.

Over the course of our week-long deliberations, we have reflected deeply on our shared priorities, reaffirmed our unity as a region, and agreed on clear actions that will help guide the Blue Pacific Continent through an increasingly complex and challenging strategic environment.

In addition to our meeting among Leaders this week, we also had the opportunity to meet with a number of our key stakeholders including with the representatives from the private sector, civil society organisations, Head of the CROP agencies, and one of our Associate members.

Key highlights

Pacific Resilience Facility
Milestones were reached this week with the signing of the Establishment Agreement for our very own Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF).

A financing facility for the Pacific, by the Pacific.  This Agreement will be a crucial advocacy tool for the capitalisation of the PRF.  I thank all those who have made pledges to this Facility to date.

Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration
In our effort to reiterate the importance of peace in our region, we endorsed the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration. As highlighted by Prime Minister Rabuka, “the Ocean of Peace Declaration is a signal that we seek a region in which strategic competition is managed; where stability is the touchstone of regional relationships; and where coercion is eschewed”.

The Declaration promotes peace building as an integral element of Pacific regionalism, and recognises that sustainable development is essential for addressing the root causes of conflict, fostering lasting harmony, and empowering communities to thrive.
Importantly, and something that is dear to me, is the discussion on the ongoing legacy issues relating to unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the region.  This is something that we are committed to incorporating this into our regional security work program.

Partnerships
Leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships and have endorsed the Leaders Policy on Partnerships for the Pacific Islands Forum. In the coming months, officials will work with Partners to lay this out more clearly and begin the assessment for the application of the Policy. We thank Partners for their understanding and allowing us, as a region, to have the space and time to work through the reviews that we have before us and to ascertain the way forward from here.

We remain committed to strengthening and elevating our partnerships to support our shared priorities and values and we hope that this new Leaders Policy will provide a firm basis for this, moving forward.

The spirit of partnerships applies to our regional partners including our CROP agencies.  This week our CROP agencies stood in solidarity in driving our collective actions to achieve the goals and vision for 2050.  

International engagement
Leaders discussed the ongoing implications of U.S. government decisions on the region and its regional agencies and noted a report commissioned by the Troika on the same. On the matter of the U.S. Leaders had agreed to also revitalise their engagement with the U.S. on nuclear legacy issues as well continue to with the U.S. to ensure the payment of the US Tuna Treaty annual payments to the region.
To increase our voice in international platforms, Leaders endorsed a regional mechanism for the nomination of international candidatures to international positions. 

Deepening regional integration
One recurring point of discussion throughout the course of the week was the need to step up our effort to drive sustainable economic development – moving away from individual sectoral approach in our key economic sectors of fisheries and tourism - to a more coordinated and cohesive approach across these key sectors through deepening regional integration.  Innovation, technological advancement and connectivity are key enablers for a deepened regional integration.  Leaders discussed opportunities in the fisheries sector to scale up development efforts to boost value-adding to this valuable shared resource.  
In the heart of regional integration is the freer movement of people and to support that, Leaders endorsed the Pacific Regional Labour Mobility Principles to guide maximising the developmental, social and economic benefits of labour mobility. 
Deepening regional integration is our commitment to leaving no one behind.  The Leaders of the Smaller Island States identified their key priorities and these cannot be driven or achieved in isolation.  Air and seas transport has been identified as one of the SIS priorities.  These are crucial for the consideration of deepening regional integration to improve intra-regional trade, access to finance and sustainable economic development. 

People-Centered Development
Our discussions this work also focused on human development where our people is front and center in all that we do.  Leaders this week reaffirmed their commitment to placing people at the heart of their collective action recognising its criticality to the wellbeing, equity and inclusion of Pacific peoples.

Climate Change and Preparation for COP31
Leaders stood in solidarity in supporting Australia in their bid to host the COP31 as a Pacific COP.  We contribute so little to global warming but we face the brunt of its impacts.  Having a Pacific COP will be an opportunity to share with the world that we are not defined by our vulnerabilities but by the strength of our resilience.
Leaders commended the effort by our youth, and with the leadership by the Government of Vanuatu, in leading the advocacy that saw the issuance of the landmark International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion (AO).

Ocean priorities
With our ocean as our lifeline, discussions on issues relating to the health of the ocean were central this week.  This includes the discussion on the outcomes of the first High-Level Talanoa on Deep Sea Mineral that took place early this year.  

One message was for certain this week – ACT NOW!

Way forward 
We achieved a mammoth task this week and I thank my fellow Forum Leaders for their commitment, endurance and more importantly, standing in solidarity as we wrap up this week’s discussions.  But many more lies ahead, and it will not be a smooth journey, but I am confident, that with my fellow Troika colleagues, we can navigate our vaka.  
Iumi tugeda, ACT now for an integrated Blue Pacific Continent. 
I thank you.