“Tonga acknowledges the declaration of the Blue Pacific as Ocean of Peace”
GOVERNMENT OF TONGA
MEDIA RELEASE
(12th September, 2025)
Honiara, 10 September, 2025:-Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum have declared the Blue Pacific Continent as
an Ocean of Peace, in a ceremonial Side Event hosted by the Prime Minister of Fiji, Hon Sitiveni Rabuka on the
margin of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meetings in Honiara.
The Ocean of Peace Declaration was an initiative by Fiji aimed at creating a shared regional vision for a
peaceful, secure, and cohesive Blue Pacific.
It was endorsed by PIF Leaders in the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meetings in Tonga in 2024, making
it a regional initiative. Due to this endorsement, PIF Officials were charged to further develop, refine and frame
the initiative as a regional initiative for presenting to Leaders at the meeting in Honiara.
The Declaration also draws reference to existing frameworks and declarations that speaks to building the
pathways to the concept of peace and security, people centred development, ocean and environment stewardship
and shared prosperity of the region.
This includes the South Pacific Nuclear Treaty Free Zone, Boe Declaration on Regional Security, Biketawa
Declaration, Declaration on Preserving Maritime Zones in the Face of Climate Change-Related Sea-Level Rise,
2023 Declaration on the Continuity of Statehood and the Protection of Persons in the Face of Climate Change-
Related Sea-Level Rise and other regional commitments underpinned by the values of the 2050 Strategy of the
Blue Pacific Continent and commitments to the rule-based international order, that is aligned to the norms and
principles of international law.
It marks a unified commitment by Forum Member States to uphold peace, stability, and solidarity across the
Blue Pacific Continent..
The Declaration recognizes the diversity of Pacific peoples and cultures across the region, and the importance
of grounding peacebuilding, peacemaking and peacekeeping approaches in national governance systems and
cultural contexts,
It embraces the equality of all Forum Members and their national sovereign right to exercise autonomy and
self-determination over their governance, resources and development pathways, in accordance with
international law, and the shared responsibility to ensure the peace, security and well-being of all Pacific
Peoples and the Blue Pacific Continent,
The Declaration is not only referring to geopolitical security dynamics, but the presence of justice where there
is social inclusion, respect for relationships grounded in mutual care and responsibility.
Issued by the: The Prime Minister’s Office, P.O. Box 62, Nuku’alofa, Tonga. Tel: (676) 7401351 Fax: (676)
23 888; For media enquiries- Email: pmopressroom@gmail.com Website: www.pmo.gov.to
The Declaration also speaks to deeper fabrics and structures of societies, well-being of peoples in the villages,
in institutions and in homes – where peace is not only about the absence of conflict and violence but peace must
begin at the home.
The Hon Prime Minister of Tonga Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke, joined Leaders of the Forum in solidarity in signing the
Declaration.
The Side Event was joint organized by the Government of Fiji, the University of the South Pacific (USP), the
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), the Pacific Security College and the Solomon Islands National
University (SINU).
-ENDS
Issued by the: The Prime Minister’s Office, P.O. Box 62, Nuku’alofa, Tonga. Tel: (676) 7401351 Fax: (676)
23 888; For media enquiries- Email: pmopressroom@gmail.com Website: www.pmo.gov.to
