Pacific Islands Forum leaders have invoked the Biketawa Declaration to support a coordinated regional response to the emerging energy crisis affecting Pacific nations amid growing instability in global fuel markets.
In a statement, Forum leaders said the move reflected a collective commitment to act early and decisively as the ongoing Middle-East crisis continued to disrupt international fuel supply chains.
Leaders acknowledged the importance of preparing the region for worsening global conditions and ensuring Pacific countries were positioned to respond in a coordinated and effective manner.
“A coordinated member-led regional response mechanism will strengthen regional coordination, support timely decision-making, and help safeguard economic stability and essential services across the Pacific,” the statement said.
As part of the regional response, the Heads of Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) have established a dedicated CROP Taskforce on the Middle-East Crisis.
The taskforce will support ongoing monitoring, align technical advice across sectors and provide timely analysis to assist regional decision-making.
The Forum also confirmed that a special session of the Forum Officials Committee would be convened this month, followed by a Special Session of Forum Foreign Ministers.
These meetings are expected to consider governance arrangements, technical support requirements and operational structures needed to implement the regional response mechanism.
The Pacific Islands Forum said invoking the Biketawa Declaration demonstrated the region’s commitment to collective action during periods of heightened global uncertainty.
“The invocation of the Biketawa Declaration underscores the Pacific’s commitment to acting early, collectively, and decisively to address shared challenges,” the statement noted.
“It reinforces regional solidarity and positions the Forum to respond effectively to evolving risks, while protecting vulnerable economies and communities across the Blue Pacific.”
The Forum noted that the Biketawa Declaration had previously been activated during major regional crises, including the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“At a time of heightened global tensions, the Pacific Islands Forum remains committed to upholding peace, stability, and collective resilience in our Blue Pacific region,” the statement said.
