UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to attend the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting in Tonga next week. The region faces a “polycrisis” including climate change, human security issues, drug trafficking, and geopolitical competition. Tonga’s Prime Minister has called for tangible outcomes at the meeting, which will focus on implementing the Pacific 2050 strategy, aimed at addressing various challenges including climate change and economic development.
One key initiative to be discussed is the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), which aims to provide financial support to vulnerable communities. The region aims to raise $500 million for the PRF by 2026, but funding remains a major obstacle. Guterres’s presence at the meeting could help draw attention to the funding gap and boost international support for the initiative.
Drug trafficking is also a significant concern in the Pacific region, with transnational narcotics smuggling routes passing through the area. An Australian-led Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) is proposed to provide training and capacity-building to Pacific island police forces to tackle the issue. However, there are concerns that the PPI may duplicate existing efforts and not address the region’s specific needs.
Overall, there is a growing sense of urgency among Pacific leaders to address these pressing issues and work towards a more resilient and secure future for the region. The meeting in Tonga will provide an opportunity for leaders to take concrete actions and make progress on key initiatives such as the PRF and the PPI.
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