Pacific Islands Forum ramps up as Albanese touches down

The prime minister arrived in Rarotonga on Wednesday (AEDT) for three days of talks with leaders of a region he has described as family.

This year's leaders meeting aims to put Pacific splintering in the past, while tackling thorny issues of climate change, geopolitical challenges and nuclear issues.

"It is important I join with fellow Pacific leaders in Cook Islands for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting," Mr Albanese said.

"Working together, through the Pacific Islands Forum, is vital to securing a shared Pacific that is peaceful, safe and prosperous."

Australia, with fellow regional heavyweight New Zealand, has put much stock in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in recent years, part of a renewed diplomatic focus on its home region.

Mr Albanese's first meeting was with Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natano, who asked for help fighting and adapting to climate change.

"It's my duty as the leader of a country that is going to be under the water, that's the way its going to be," Mr Natano told Mr Albanese.

The Polynesian leader was happy with the meeting, telling journalists he would support Australia's bid to host a Pacific-focused COP climate change conference in 2026.

"We know that Tuvalu is on the front line of climate change and the impact is certainly felt most acutely in island states such as Tuvalu," Mr Albanese said.

"My government was elected on a platform of taking action against climate change and I look forward to working with you in the interest of both of our respective countries but also in the interests of the globe."

Mr Albanese was also scheduled to meet representatives from Kiribati and the Cook Islands on Wednesday (AEDT).

Palau President Surangel Whipps Jnr said climate change would continue to be a large focus of the forum, along with the role Australia could play.

"Australia's climate policies have vastly shifted, and we need to encourage Australia to continue in that direction and not go backwards," he told ABC Radio.

In recent years, PIF has been hampered by threatened walkouts and no-shows which jeopardise the blue continent's biggest strength: unity.

PIF certainly needed attention. Last year, Micronesian nations voiced their unhappiness with power-sharing arrangements, with one, Kiribati, announcing its intention to leave the regional body.

Unity talks delivered the Suva Agreement which saved the organisation, but they may have also manufactured a crisis.

Under the agreement, Micronesia was granted the right to name the next PIF secretary general, picking Baron Waqa.

The former Nauru prime minister is a controversial choice, with a record of sacking the country's judiciary, limiting press freedom, and links to a corruption probe by Australia's federal police.

Both Australia and New Zealand support Mr Waqa's candidacy, citing the need for unity.

"We don't anticipate it being revisited," NZ representative Carmel Sepuloni said.

Australia has also increased aid and engagement in the region, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong crisscrossing the blue continent to visit every PIF member.

There are 15 nations intending to send delegations to the Cook Islands, including the United Kingdom, Germany, as well as superpowers China and the United States.

Showing the heightened US interest in the region, the Biden administration is sending cabinet official Linda Thomas-Greenfield, its Ambassador to the United Nations, which has ramped up engagement from his predecessor Donald Trump.

Increased US interest comes at a time when China's engagement is also deepening in the region; most notably through security ties with the Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare will be a noticeable absentee in the Cook Islands, with Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and New Zealand leaders also not attending for differing reasons.

Australian Associated Press