Palau backs Solomon Islands' move to exclude Pacific Islands Forum partner talks until 2026

Caption: Palau backs Solomon Islands' decision to defer the Pacific Islands Forum dialogue partners meeting to 2026, when Palau will be hosting the annual gathering.

Photo credit: RNZ Pacific via RNZ.co.nz

Excerpt from rnz.co.nz

Palau "respects" the Solomon Islands' decision to exclude Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) dialogue partners when it hosts the annual leaders' meeting in Honiara next month.

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has sent letters to PIF member states suggesting a move to restrict partners, including China, the United States and Taiwan, from the gathering next month.

This will not be the first time a host of the Leaders Meeting has wanted external partners excluded.

"Palau acknowledges and respects the decision by host, Solomon Islands, to defer the partners' dialogues to 2026," the Palau President's Office said in a statement to RNZ Pacific.