Pacific Islands Forum

The United States has "listened carefully" to Pacific Island nations in its efforts to boost its diplomatic footprint in the region, the deputy secretary of State, Kurt Campbell, says.

The Solomon Islands foreign affairs permanent secretary says associate and full membership status of the largest regional body was originally set up for independent countries only.

The Prime Minister says the agreement commits Australia to help Tuvalu with climate adaptation, and he's also had conversation with Fiji PM to develop a similar bilateral agreement.

The 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting is off to a start with pouring rain and an earthquake as the backdrop, with the New Caledonia and the climate crisis as hot button issues.

Kiribati's head of delegation at Tonga leaders' summit says "our constitutional task" is to prioritise the elections process and diplomatic visits will resume once new government is formed.

But for locals, Tonga hosting the summit means it offers a much-needed cash injection to the nation, which is still recovering from the Hunga-Tonga Hunga Ha'apai eruption and tsunami. Audio

A Taiwanese deputy foreign minister will be at this week's Pacific Islands leaders in Tonga, as China and the United States jostle for influence in the region.

The Pacific Islands Forum leaders' summit is just days away from opening in Nuku'alofa in Tonga, and frantic efforts are still needed to ensure visitors are housed. Audio

A Pacific Islands Forum high-level mission was expected to travel to New Caledonia this week to speak to all sides involved in the ongoining violence in the French territory.

Opinion - The prime ministers of Cook Islands, Fiji and Solomon Islands hope to be in the New Caledonia next week, before heading to Tonga to report back, Tess Newton Cain writes.

"There is widespread support for the membership of Guam and American Samoa...that is the recommendation from [Pacific Islands Forum] foreign ministers." Audio

The three-person Pacific leaders mission to New Caledonia is expected to happen prior to the Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga on 26 August, PIF chair Mark Brown says.

The Pacific Resilience Facility was endorsed by the Pacific Islands Forum leaders to make it easier for Pacific Island nations to access climate financing.

Hu'akavameiliku says the countdown for a response from France is on with Pacific leaders set to meet in Tonga in the last week of this month.

Tonga's Finance Minister has told the Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Suva the global economic outlook remains uncertain.

The Pacific Islands Forum could serve as a "constructive force" to find a "path forward" in New Caledonia, the Foreign Affairs Minister Winston says. Video