Pacific Island leaders are convening for the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, from August 26-30, bringing together over 1,000 international dignitaries to address the region’s most pressing issues. The summit comes at a critical time, as the Pacific region faces a complex web of challenges, including climate change, human security, transnational drug trafficking, and geopolitical competition.
The meeting’s theme, “Build Better Now,” reflects the need for tangible results and outcomes, as the region grapples with existential threats and a growing sense of urgency. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will attend the summit, five years after his iconic visit to Tuvalu, where he highlighted the devastating impact of climate change on Pacific countries.
Pacific leaders are expected to take action on long-running issues, such as climate change, as well as acute crises like the situation in New Caledonia. The summit will also focus on implementing the 2050 Strategy for a Blue Pacific Continent, a far-reaching plan aimed at driving collective action and identity in the region.
Experts say the region requires a unified approach to survive, and the PIF Leaders Meeting presents a critical opportunity for leaders to come together and address the pressing issues facing the Pacific. With the world watching, the summit’s outcomes will have far-reaching implications for the region’s future.
