For now, the Pacific Island regionalism canoe has been fixed. The fracture of the region from the appointment of the Cook Islands' Henry Puna as Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, over the Micronesian candidate, has been mended. Bringing to an end a short but turbulent period for Pac.
Mended region sails into Indo-Pacific headwinds pina.com.fj - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from pina.com.fj Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The election battle for the PIF SG position and the deportation of USP VC will, at a minimum, cause division and discord for many years to come, write Stephen Howes and Sadhana Sen.
Following Micronesia’s invitation, Biden’s foreshadowed attendance at the Pacific Islands Forum would be the first by a sitting US president and a major step-up in direct US presence in the region.
As the US deepens its preparations for war with China, New Zealand will be required to fall into line and further integrate into the US alliance along with Australia.