As reported by Open4Business, Ukraine has officially received the status of sectoral partner of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), which unites 18 states and territories of the Pacific region. The relevant decision was made by the leaders of the organization at the 55 summit in Palau, which took place from 30 August to 4 September 2026, the Embassy of Ukraine in Australia reported on 25 October.
The Secretariat of the Forum
sent an official notification confirming Ukraine's inclusion in the category
of sectoral partners (Sectoral Partnership Stream).
This decision is the result of more than three years of diplomatic work aimed at expanding Ukraine's relations with the states of Oceania and regional international organizations.
The new status provides for the possibility of regular political dialogue with
member states of the Forum, including within the framework of annual meetings of foreign ministers
of the organization with international partners (Forum Foreign
Ministers–Forum Partners Dialogue).
In addition, Ukraine and the Forum will be able to develop a joint cooperation plan in
areas of mutual interest.
Among the priority areas, Kyiv highlights food security, digital state
management, education, and climate change adaptation.
In particular, the development of cooperation in the field of food security can create
additional opportunities for Ukrainian producers of agricultural products and
food. The states of the Pacific region are interested in increasing the resilience of food supplies, since many island economies are significantly
dependent on imports.
The exchange of Ukrainian experience in the digitalization
of state services and the development of e-government is also a promising direction.
In the field of education, the new format of interaction can contribute to the development of academic
exchanges, joint research programs, and the training of specialists.
Meanwhile, specific trade agreements, investment projects, or financial
obligations are not announced in the embassy's message. Ukrainian diplomacy attaches particular importance
to cooperation with the states of Oceania on issues of international law, compliance with the UN Charter, protection of sovereignty and
territorial integrity of states.
The embassy emphasized Ukraine's interest in strengthening international
support for the principle of the inadmissibility of changing state borders by force.
Ukraine also expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Forum Secretariat and all 18
member states and territories of the organization for supporting the decision to grant
the new status.
The Pacific Islands Forum was established in 1971 under the name
South Pacific Forum. In 2000, the organization received its current name. Its headquarters is located in Suva, the capital of Fiji.
The Forum includes Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea,
Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu, Palau,
Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Cook Islands, Niue, as well as
French Polynesia and New Caledonia.
The organization deals with issues of regional economic integration, trade,
climate change, sustainable development, and security. One of the main strategic
documents is the Strategy for the Development of the Pacific Region until 2050 (2050
Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent).
At the summit of 2026, the member states approved an updated mechanism for interaction with
international partners, which provides for the division of cooperation into strategic and
sectoral directions.
Ukraine's acquisition of sectoral status creates an institutional basis for
long-term cooperation with the states of Oceania, but does not mean the country's accession
to the Forum as a full member.
Source: Embassy
of Ukraine in Australia, official message from 25 October 2026.
