Pacific Islands Forum Chair Jeremiah Manele urges purposeful investment and stronger Pacific security in Honolulu.
Honolulu, Hawaii, Monday 23 February 2026 – Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, MP, speaking in his capacity as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, called for purposeful investment and stronger security at the Pacific Agenda Summit in Honolulu to advance regional development.
Delivering the opening address at the Pacific Agenda: Investment, Security and Shared Prosperity Summit at the East-West Center, Prime Minister Manele thanked the Government of the United States and the East-West Center for convening the Summit. He highlighted the importance of strengthening coordinated engagement with development partners to advance Pacific priorities, guided by the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, focusing on sustainable development, regional security, and economic prosperity.
Prime Minister Manele emphasized that investment in the Pacific must be purposeful, predictable, and people-centered. Success, he said, should not be measured solely by the scale of investment but by its tangible impact on communities, particularly through improved access to electricity, markets, and digital connectivity for young people. Key regional priorities include climate-resilient infrastructure and renewable energy transition, sustainable ocean-based industries and fisheries value addition, and the development of digital connectivity and human capital.
On security, the Prime Minister observed that Pacific concerns extend beyond traditional defense issues to encompass climate security, economic vulnerability, and maritime threats. He reaffirmed that climate change remains the greatest security challenge for Pacific Island countries, affecting livelihoods, infrastructure, and national economies. Security cooperation, he said, should support disaster preparedness and climate resilience, strengthen maritime domain awareness, combat transnational crime, and respect national sovereignty and regional stability, consistent with the Ocean of Peace Declaration.
On shared prosperity, Prime Minister Manele stressed the need for fair participation of Pacific economies in global markets. He called for enhanced trade access, labor mobility, and technology partnerships, alongside reforms to global financial systems that recognize the multidimensional vulnerabilities of Pacific nations.
Prime Minister Manele urged the Summit to move beyond dialogue toward practical commitments and measurable reforms. He reaffirmed that the Pacific Islands Forum stands ready to work with the United States in a spirit of trust, equality, and shared responsibility for the future of the Blue Pacific Continent.
SOURCE: PMO Press Release
