The Pacific Islands Forum held its 53rd Forum Leaders Meeting in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, to address pressing regional concerns. US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell represented the United States and met with Pacific partners to reaffirm America’s commitment to the region.
From August 26 to 30, 2024, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders and partners convened in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, for the 53rd PIF Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) to discuss critical regional issues and challenges such as Pacific policing, regional security, climate change, and the New Caledonia crisis, among others. PIFLM 2024 also sought to deliver on the Review of Regional Architecture for PIF and implement the 2050 Strategy for a Blue Pacific Continent, the region’s guide in terms of its policies and future development.
US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell led the US delegation to PIFLM 2024. On August 28, 2024, Deputy Secretary Campbell arrived in Nuku'alofa and met with Pacific Island officials on the sidelines to discuss the US-Pacific Partnership Strategy. PIFLM 2024 enabled Deputy Secretary Campbell to touch on American support for regional security, climate change efforts, and sustainable development. From Tonga, Deputy Secretary Campbell paid diplomatic visits to Vanuatu and New Zealand. Campbell’s attendance at PIFLM 2024 follows the September 25-26, 2023, US-Pacific Islands Forum Summit in Washington, D.C., and the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture held in Hawai‘i from June 6-16, 2024.
The US has deep ties with the Pacific Islands. Located in Suva, Fiji, the United States Agency for International Development office has played an important role in providing robust climate change initiatives, economic development, health programs, and democratic governance. The US has an economic and strategic presence in the Micronesian subregion, home to the American territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as the Freely Associated States and PIF members: the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau. American Samoa, another US territory, is part of the Polynesian subregion. The US Indo-Pacific Command, located in Hawai‘i, is responsible for the security of the Pacific Islands.
Pacific Resiliency Facility
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the PIFLM 2024 opening ceremony, where he sent another climate warning to the world, underscoring rapidly rising waters, particularly in the Pacific Islands region. The UN and the World Meteorological Organization also released a report indicating that rising sea levels are the result of global warming, melting ice sheets and glaciers, ocean acidification, and marine heat waves, which can heavily affect the Pacific Islands region in the future.
The Pacific Resiliency Facility (PRF), headquartered in Tonga, was created to assist vulnerable Pacific Island communities confronting climate change and disaster risks. Deputy Secretary Campbell declared a $25 million pledge to the PRF to assist PIF members in obtaining funding for climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, and early disaster response initiatives.
Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils
Climate change affects food sources and systems. The Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) initiative aims to produce a resilient food system by cultivating diverse, nutritious, climate-adapted crops in rich soil. VACS started as a food security initiative for Africa in 2023 and has now become a worldwide program.
During PIFLM 2024, the US, Australia, New Zealand, and PIF members expanded VACS to the region. The Office of the Spokesperson at the US Department of State stated that the US and Australia will contribute a total of $2.6 million to launch the New Zealand-led Pacific Vision for Adapted Crops.
New PIF Associate Members
One of the most anticipated topics on the PIFLM 2024 agenda was the membership status of US territories Guam and American Samoa. Both are now PIF associate members, having previously served as observers for the multilateral organization. Guam and American Samoa, as associate members, can now speak at plenary sessions of leaders' meetings and committee meetings, as well as recommend individuals for PIF working groups. However, both are not part of the PIF decision-making process.
In June 2024, the US government relaxed its restrictions on its territories, enabling them to apply for PIF associate membership if they do not take foreign policy positions. This modification altered an existing policy that previously prohibited their participation in international organizations.
Still awaiting assessment, though, is the Northern Mariana Islands' application. The PIF delegation scheduled to undertake an on-site evaluation of the US territory experienced travel issues. The Northern Mariana Islands will have to wait until PIFLM 2025 to achieve associate membership.
Consular Upgrade
Deputy Secretary Campbell and the US Embassy in Tonga launched a new consular window pilot program, a crucial step in enhancing US-Tonga relations. This launch came after the official opening of the US Embassy in Tonga on August 28, 2024. The pilot program will provide vital consular services to American citizens while also extending non-immigrant visa streams to all Tonga residents. Tongans are said to be the largest Pacific community in the US after Hawaiians and Samoans.
Sky Diplomacy
On the sidelines of PIFLM 2024, Deputy Secretary Campbell and Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka signed an open skies air transportation agreement, opening the door for Fiji Airways to commence nonstop flights between Dallas, Texas and Fiji. The agreement will enable airlines to deliver cheaper, accessible, and reliable flights for passengers and freight while enhancing regional tourism and trade.
Chuuk Lagoon Project
Deputy Secretary Campbell and Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Komura Masahiro acknowledged Japan's efforts to clean oil from sunken World War II vessels in Micronesia's Chuuk Lagoon. Both parties are willing to work together to assist Micronesia in this endeavor.
Official Visit to Vanuatu
After attending PIFLM 2024, Deputy Secretary Campbell paid a visit to Vanuatu to officially dedicate the US Embassy in Port Vila. Deputy Secretary Campbell also promised to provide visa services for the US Embassy, which would be convenient for Vanuatu citizens.
Deputy Secretary Campbell also visited the Port Vila Central Hospital in Vanuatu to see the new Intensive Care Unit, which opened in July 2024 thanks to a $210,000 Peace Corps donation and combined efforts by the US, Vanuatu, Japan, and Australia. Deputy Secretary Campbell also interacted with Peace Corps volunteers at the hospital, who returned to Vanuatu in July 2024 for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deputy Secretary Campbell attended an Artifacts Repatriation Ceremony at the Vanuatu Cultural Center, which celebrated the return of smuggled Vanuatu cultural treasures made possible by the collaborative efforts between the Department of State, Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Coast Guard, and FedEx.
Official Visit to New Zealand
Deputy Secretary Campbell visited Auckland, New Zealand, on August 30, 2024, where he co-chaired the US-New Zealand Strategic Dialogue, met with key New Zealander government figures, and introduced the Critical and Emerging Technology Dialogue.
The annual Strategic Dialogue provided an occasion to celebrate and strengthen the long-standing friendship between the US and New Zealand. The Strategic Dialogue emphasized the need for both states to invest in their enduring bilateral partnership. As part of the investment, the two states agreed to continue their close and trusted security relations, boost defense collaboration, and expand trade and economic ties.
The New Zealand-United States Dialogue on Critical and Emerging Technologies fortified links between the New Zealand and US technology sectors, strengthened economic ties through technological innovation, examined new areas for research collaboration, and explored opportunities to tackle regulatory and legislative issues associated with the two states' technology partnership. The dialogue also commemorated the 150th anniversary of the transit of Venus, during which American scientists first collaborated with their Kiwi counterparts.
Overall, it was a successful Pacific trip for Deputy Secretary Campbell. While the US gave way for Australia’s Pacific Policing Initiative, Deputy Secretary Campbell had meaningful engagements with Pacific partners and managed to show the region that the US government is committed to upholding the US-Pacific Partnership Strategy and continue assisting the region.
John Angelo Gerard "Jag” D.O. Calbario was a participant in the Young Professionals Program at the East-West Center in Washington, DC. He is a master’s graduate in international affairs with a concentration in global governance, politics, and security at the American University's School of International Service.