Prime Minister (PM) Jeremiah Manele has confirmed that preparations are well underway for the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) in Honiara next month.
During his press conference on Friday 8 August he also announced the official logo and theme for the meeting.
The theme, “Iumi Tugeda: Act Now for an Integrated Blue Pacific Continent”, celebrates 54 years of the Pacific Islands Forum’s journey.
It is both a call to action and a reaffirmation of the region’s shared identity as one Blue Pacific Continent, committed to strengthening regionalism and acting with purpose for an integrated, resilient and sustainable Pacific.
Prime Minister Manele said the theme reflects a collective determination to move from strategy to action and to show the world that the Pacific stands united.
In addressing the Forum programme, Prime Minister Manele emphasised that the Pacific Islands Forum remains the cornerstone of regional unity, cooperation and collective action for Pacific peoples. He stressed the importance of ensuring that the region leads, drives and owns its agenda without distraction from divisive narratives.
He noted that the world has changed since the Forum’s establishment more than five decades ago and that the organisation is undertaking a comprehensive review of its regional architecture to ensure it is fit for purpose, effective and aligned with the region’s 2050 Strategy.
Prime Minister Manele confirmed the decision to defer the Partners Dialogue until 2026, in line with the Leaders’ Communique from the 53rd Forum in Tonga.
He explained that the deferment was taken in the spirit of the Pacific Way and with the endorsement of the Pacific Islands Forum Troika Plus, comprising the Prime Ministers of Tonga, Cook Islands and the President of Palau.
“This decision is made in the collective interest of the Pacific,” Prime Minister Manele said. “It will allow us to complete vital reforms to the Partnership and Engagement Mechanism, ensure that engagement with our partners is strategic, transparent and aligned with our priorities, and give partners the time they need to adapt to the new process.
It is not about exclusion — it is about building a stronger, more effective platform for cooperation that serves the region’s best interests.”
The Prime Minister explained that the deferment will allow Forum officials and members time to finalise and adopt the new criteria for the reformed Partnership and Engagement Mechanism and provide dialogue partners with the opportunity to understand and adapt to the updated engagement process.
He highlighted that a similar deferment took place in 2022 under Fiji’s leadership, also with the aim of strengthening regional unity and solidarity.
While acknowledging public discussion on the issue, Prime Minister Manele was clear that Solomon Islands is a sovereign nation and that all Forum decisions are made collectively by members through established processes based on respect, dialogue and consensus. He thanked Forum colleagues for their support, particularly Palau, which will host the 55th Forum in 2026 when the reformed mechanism will be fully implemented.
Looking ahead to the Honiara meeting, Prime Minister Manele said the Forum’s focus will be on critical intra-regional issues including the High-Level Political Talanoa, the Ocean of Peace Declaration and the Pacific Resilience Facility.
He reassured partners that their engagement remains valued and that the decision to defer the Partners Dialogue is intended to ensure that future cooperation is conducted through a transparent, strategic and robust process that safeguards sovereignty and strengthens the region’s collective voice.
“Solomon Islands, as your host and incoming Chair, will continue to work with all members and partners to uphold the Pacific Way — respectful, inclusive and united,” Prime Minister Manele said. “This pause is not a step back, but an important step forward for the Pacific’s shared future.”
– OPMC
