Leaders to gather in Munda for PIF retreat amid controversies and pursuit of regional unity

Pacific leaders are set to converge in the serene surroundings of Munda, a vibrant community in the Solomon Islands’ Western Province, for the highly anticipated Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting (PIFLM).

The annual gathering, scheduled for Thursday, will bring together over 18 prime ministers and promises to be a pivotal moment for regional unity amid ongoing controversies.

Munda, located in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands, is the largest community on New Georgia Island.

According to Skyscanner, the average flight time from Honiara to Munda is around an hour and 20 minutes with Solomon Airlines.

The airport, built by the Japanese in 1942 and later taken over by the Americans in 1943, remains the second-largest airstrip in the Solomons.

Munda is known for its exceptional diving and snorkelling opportunities in pristine reefs, its rich World War II history, and the unique Melanesian culture, which includes sites like Skull Island and the Peter Joseph World War II Museum.

Opening ceremony for the PIFLM in Honiara. Photo/Supplied

Last year, leaders met in Vava’u, an outer island of Tonga, for the annual leaders’ retreat. The retreats are a unique feature of the PIFLM and allow leaders to meet without officials present, facilitating open discussions.

The PIFLM is the most significant annual gathering in the Pacific region and serves as a platform for collective decision-making on critical issues such as climate change, security, and fisheries.

This year’s meeting is particularly controversial due to the Solomon Islands’ decision to exclude dialogue partners, including the United States, China, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

New Zealand Prime Minsiter Christopher Luxon arrived in Honiara at 1:30am on Wednesday. Photo/PMN News/Ala Vailala

Many countries, including New Zealand, have expressed their disapproval of the Solomons’ decision.

Despite the controversy, progress is expected on Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s ‘Ocean of Peace’ initiative, which is set for approval at this year’s meeting.

Initially presented at the PIFLM in Rarotonga in 2023, the initiative proposes that Pacific leaders adopt a set of principles that ‘embed peace as the cornerstone of our individual and collective policies’.

Approval of the initiative would signal the region’s commitment to defining its own security and peace framework, independent of external influences.

Watch Tonga's Prime Minister's remarks at the PIFLM opening ceremony in Honiara below.