Suva, Fiji — 13 August 2025
The Cook Islands joined the 17 other members of the Pacific Islands Forum for the annual Pre-Forum Session of the Forum Officials Committee held from 11-13 August at the Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji.
The Committee meeting, chaired by Palau and supported by Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa, was a continuation of the week of key Forum governing council meetings, including the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting that will convene at the Secretariat on 14 August and the Forum Leaders Meeting to convene in Honiara next month.
In their discussions, the Committee recognized the increasing complexity of the regional and global strategic landscape, including climate change, transnational crime, economic pressures, public health, geopolitical tensions and security threats, and reaffirmed the centrality of regionalism in navigating the region’s response in a well-coordinated manner to the evolving international order.
The Committee welcomed the High-Level Political Talanoa (HLPT) Report on the Review of the Regional Architecture as a platform for Leaders to engage in considered honest and strategic dialogue in charting the future of the region’s collective governance when they meet in Honiara next month.
Speaking to the HLPT Report, Cook Islands Head of Delegation and Foreign Secretary Tepaeru Herrmann said “Pacific regionalism has been a significant contributor to the Cook Islands development journey for well over six decades – through joint global advocacy and advancements in oceans matters including fisheries, climate action, the environment, education, health, culture and more. It does however require review and in that regard, the Cook Islands welcome the recommendations of the HLPT report which in our view strikes an effective balance between bold, transformative proposals and the necessity for careful sequencing in delivery.”
Other matters considered by the Committee included regional political developments, nuclear legacy issues, and outcomes of prior regional meetings that have taken place earlier this year including the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting, the Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders Meeting, Forum Trade Ministers Meeting, Forum Fisheries Ministers Meeting and Corporate Governance matters relating to the operations of the Forum Secretariat.
Commenting at the close of the meeting, Foreign Secretary Herrmann said, “The breadth and depth of the Committee agenda, the discussions had and the recommendations that will travel onwards for Leader’s consideration require careful preparation and management of the Leaders program when they meet in Honiara next month to ensure the Forum remains focused on the priorities of Pacific people as articulated in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Members strong presence and engagement were appreciated, along with their warm congratulations to the Cook Islands on its 60th anniversary of self-governance this year.”
In addition to the 18 members of the Forum and the Secretariat – the Committee meetings were also attended by representatives of the Council of Regional Organsiations for the Pacific including the Pacific Community (SPC), the Forum Fisheries Agency and the University of the South Pacific.
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