Overview:
Pacific Islands Forum leaders are expected to play a decisive role in shaping the region’s future partnerships as the long-awaited regional architecture review moves closer to completion. Forum Secretary General Baron Divavesi Waqa says recommendations on strategic and development partners will remain confidential until leaders consider and approve them at the upcoming Forum meeting in Palau.
By Pita Ligaiula
MAJURO, 25 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS) — Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Baron Divavesi Waqa says the regional architecture review is still underway and will be presented to Forum Leaders for approval before further details on strategic and development partnerships are made public.
Responding to a question during a press conference in Majuro on the status of the review and whether partners would be informed of their status before the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, Waqa said the process remains ongoing.
“For that part of the work, it’s ongoing at the moment. It’s ongoing.”
He said the Forum Secretariat expects to submit the review to leaders for consideration in the lead-up to the meeting in Palau.
“We hope to have that ready for leaders’ approval later on within the month or two in Palau,” he said.
However, he indicated that details of the review would remain limited until leaders have considered the recommendations.
“As far as the review goes, I think we will be able to provide some more information probably next week, but that will remain fairly much under wraps because our leaders need to approve it,” Forum SG Waqa said.
He said the same approach would apply to development partnership arrangements.
Waqa said the Secretariat would provide updates where possible but stressed that some information must first be presented to leaders.
“We do our best to try and update where we see possible to share the information.”
“But as you probably are aware, some of this information will need to get to our leaders before we can share publicly,” Forum SG Waqa said…. PACNEWS
