BLUF
This article argues that the proposed withdrawal of Micronesian States from the Pacific Islands Forum has been delayed until June 2022 to allow consensus to be reached on the Secretary General position.Summary
This article makes the following points:
- The Pacific Islands Forum comprises Micronesian, Melanesian and Polynesian nations, and Australia and New Zealand.
- The Secretary-General, by a gentleman’s agreement, previously rotated between regions.
- In 2021 the Micronesian candidate whose turn it was, was challenged and lost.
- Micronesia, therefore, vowed to withdraw from the Forum.
- Pacific Island countries, including Australia and New Zealand, have quietly tried to heal the rift.
- Confirmation of an agreement is awaited.
References
Recent Runway Posts related to this topic:
References from the Web:
- FEB 2022 Micronesia temporarily rescinds withdrawal from Pacific forum | Reuters
- FEB 2022 Might Blinken’s visit halt the Pacific Islands Forum split? | The Strategist
- FEB 2022 Will Micronesia Stay in the Pacific Islands Forum After All?
Source Information ABC Australia
- Article Source: ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
- Media Check: ABC News Australia - Media Bias/Fact Check (mediabiasfactcheck.com)
- LEARNING OUTCOMES—RUNWAY | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
