Full Breakdown
Israel Becomes a Partner in the Pacific Islands Forum
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 21, Israel’s foreign ministry announced that the country has been accepted as a partner of the inter-governmental Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). The decision follows a request submitted by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar during his June visit to Fiji and was confirmed by PIF Secretary-General Baron Divavesi Waqa at a meeting in Palau. Under the partnership, Israel will join the Forum’s Sectoral Partnership Stream and cooperate on water management, desalination, agriculture, climate-change adaptation, innovation and sustainable development.
Background & Context
The Pacific Islands Forum, an 18-member bloc, recently restructured its external relationships into “strategic” and “sector” partners. Prior to Israel’s entry, the Forum counted 21 dialogue partners, including the United States, China, Japan and the European Union. Israel’s outreach builds on recent diplomatic moves in the region: Nauru opened an embassy in Jerusalem last month, and Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Nauru have established embassies in Jerusalem since the current Israeli government took office. Israel also opened an embassy in Fiji earlier this year, which serves nine additional Pacific nations that maintain friendly ties with Israel.
Official Statements & Responses
Israel’s foreign ministry said the partnership will allow the country to contribute its expertise in the listed sectors and that a joint action plan and monitoring mechanism will be developed. Foreign Minister Sa’ar described the move as part of a broader effort to strengthen ties with the Pacific and noted that Israel’s aid agency MASHAV is already engaged in the region. The PIF has not issued an official comment on the partnership.
Data & Statistics
- Pacific Islands Forum: 18 member states.
- Existing dialogue partners before Israel’s inclusion: 21.
- Nations with embassies in Jerusalem that support Israel: seven UN member-states, including the United States.
- Pacific countries that have opened embassies in Jerusalem: Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Nauru.
- Israel’s embassy in Fiji serves nine additional Pacific Island nations.
Why It Matters
Israel’s entry into the PIF expands its diplomatic footprint in a region where several island states have historically voted in Israel’s favor at the United Nations. By positioning itself as a sector partner focused on climate resilience and water technology, Israel seeks to deepen strategic ties while competing with other major powers—such as the United States, China, France and Britain—that also vie for influence in the Pacific. The partnership may bolster Israel’s international support amid ongoing scrutiny of its actions in Gaza.