Fiji to Host Pacific Security Conference as Region Confronts "Polycrisis"

Pacific leaders, diplomats, and security experts will gather in Suva tomorrow (14 July 2025) for the second Pacific Regional and National Security Conference (PRNSC)—a three-day summit aimed at strengthening cooperation and charting a shared path to peace, resilience, and security across the region.

Held at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the conference takes place against the backdrop of multiple intersecting crises, from climate change and cyber threats to transnational crime and intensifying geopolitical competition.

According to the official 2025 PRNSC Conference Program, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has highlighted the urgency of regional unity, stating that “today’s complex security landscape demands unity and cooperation across our region.” He stressed that Pacific nations, as custodians of the Blue Pacific, are uniquely positioned to shape a future of peace, resilience, and prosperity.

Rabuka also warned of increasing turbulence in the global order, noting that the “centre of gravity is moving” as major powers contend for influence in the region. “This shift is playing out across diplomatic, economic and security domains—creating a more complex and uncertain strategic environment that Pacific Island countries must navigate,” he said.

A central theme of the conference is the “Ocean of Peace” initiative—a regional vision to embed peace as a guiding principle in policy and governance. Rabuka described the concept as a reflection of the Pacific Way and reaffirmed the region’s shared aspiration for people to “lead free, healthy and productive lives.”

The conference will bring together senior political and policy leaders from across the region, including:

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Fiji

Secretary General Baron Waqa, Pacific Islands Forum

Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi, Niue

Crown Prince Tupouto‘a ‘Ulukalala, Tonga

Minister Pio Tikoduadua, Fiji

Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad, Fiji

Minister Dr Maina Talia, Tuvalu

Minister Tingika Elikana, Cook Islands

Professor Biman Prasad will participate in a session on climate security, highlighting the crucial link between development and peace. Dr Maina Talia is expected to emphasise the need for vigilance as worsening climate indicators continue to threaten lives and livelihoods across the region.

The conference will conclude on Wednesday, 16 July, with a futures exercise inviting participants to envision what a truly peaceful Pacific might look like by 2050—and the bold choices required to get there.