By Losirene Dasalusalu, Cook Islands News
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says Pacific nations have been in the past used as theatres of war. Photo: Cook Islands News / Talaia Mika
As major geopolitical powers in the world look to strengthen and militarise parts of the Pacific, leaders of the Pacific have urged that "this part of the world remain a theatre of peace", not a theatre of conflict, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says.
Brown, who returned from the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Honiara, Solomon Islands in September, made this comment in parliament as he highlighted the significant signing of the Ocean of Peace declared by PIF leaders.
He said this was an initiative from Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka when the Cook Islands hosted the Forum Leaders Meeting in 2023, and it was signed by the leaders this month.
He said that if there was a time when they wanted to reinforce the region as a zone of peace in the world, now is the time, especially given the conflicts still occurring on the other side of the world.
"Our Pacific nations have been in the past used as theatres of war by countries who are not in the Pacific, that have been used as places of testing of nuclear weapons by countries not in the Pacific.
"Our message was very clear that we are not strengthened by increasing the number of people, increasing our military, or by more patrol boats or more submarines.
"We are certain that when you help us grow our economy, when you help us provide opportunities for our people, our security concerns are economic security and climate security.
"I commend Rabuka for his declaration that all leaders signed in Honiara as a significant declaration that our forum and its history of 54 years has signed," Brown said.
Pacific Resilience Facility
Brown also highlighted the signing of the Treaty of the Establishment of the Pacific Resilience Facility at the Forum meeting.
He said that as the Cook Islands was one of the original members that initiated the establishment of this facility, it was very pleasing to see they were able to bring it to fruition after more than six years.
"We are hopeful that other countries will now be able to contribute to this particular facility so that countries at risk of climate change, like us in the Pacific, will be able to directly access it and help to resist against the impacts of climate change."
He added that one of the early contributors of $50 million was Saudi Arabia who made a pledge when the Cook Islands hosted in 2023.
The Australian government had also pledged $100m to the fund.
"We hope to see this grow as the forum will now take the lead to seek contributions and pledges to this particular fund."
Meanwhile, the Pacific Resilience Partners Routable Table was held last month at the United Nations Headquarters as part of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' broader engagement at UNGA80. This marked the launching of the PRF Capitalisation Memorandum for Investors and officially opened the global pledging window for the next 15 months from this month to December 2026.
Forum Chair and Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Jeremiah Manele called on partners to recognise and invest in the PRF as a credible, innovative and transformative self-financing solution that is a feasible and sustainable alternative to the issue of scarce public resources.
Ireland pledged their contribution of €3m ahead the Talanoa, Portugal announced their €1m pledge, and the President of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, Germany, further affirmed their contribution of €5m to the PRF. This now brings total pledges to date to US$166m, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat reports.
United Nations secretary-general and high representative Rabab Fatima said, "The PRF is urgent because Pacific nations face the most severe climate threats. The PRF changes this equation. It brings resources directly to the communities that need them most - before crisis becomes catastrophe."
The PRF Talanoa attracted high-level participation from partners including, Ireland, Germany, Portugal, Norway, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
"Your investment will strengthen the resilience of our Pacific communities, transform their lives and create lasting benefits for our people and the planet - now and for future generations," remarked Tongan PM Dr 'Aisake Eke at the event.
The PRF Roundtable Talanoa is part of the PRF high-level capitalisation advocacy campaign to raise the initial target of US$500m, PIFS added.
-This article was first published by Cook Islands News
