VP Kamala Harris To Address Pacific Islands Forum

Tomorrow, Vice President Kamala Harris will virtually address the annual leaders’ meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum in Suva, Fiji.

• According to the White House, Harris "will underscore the commitment of the United States to the Pacific Islands region and discuss opportunities to deepen U.S. engagement in the region and areas to deliver concrete results for the people of the Pacific."
• Harris' presence at the event underscores the prominent geopolitical position of the Pacific Island nations as the US and allies in the Indo-Pacific attempt to counter a move from China to project military presence into the region.
• According to Reuters, "China's ambitions for greater security ties across the region" will be on the agenda.
• The forum was also shaken today by the withdrawal of Kiribati, citing failure of the bloc to appoint a Micronesian candidate to lead the secretariat.
• Taneti Maamau, president of Kiribati, said in a leaked letter: “Kiribati has taken the sovereign decision to withdraw from the Pacific Islands Forum with immediate effect. This decision was not taken lightly.”
• Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Kiribati in May and the two countries signed 10 agreements on climate and the economy but reportedly not on security.