Pacific Beat / By Marian Faa Posted Tue 11 Oct 2022 at 10:46amTuesday 11 Oct 2022 at 10:46am, updated Tue 11 Oct 2022 at 3:42pm
The government of Guam has rejected suggestions Washington is behind the United States territory’s bid to join the Pacific’s peak diplomatic body.
Key points:
- The Pacific Islands Forum is the main body Pacific nations and territories use to engage and make decisions
- If Guam’s request to join is successful it would be boost the United States’ push for influence in the Pacific
- Pacific expert Tarcisius Kabutaulaka says disagreement over its inclusion could further destabilise the PIF
Experts say the move would place the US “firmly on the inside” of debates about China and other regional matters.
The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), which currently has 17 members, is the primary body through which Pacific nations and territories engage and make decisions at a multilateral level.
READ FULL ARTICLE : This island territory wants a seat at the Pacific’s ‘top table’. But who is pulling the strings? – ABC News
