For Pacific Island nations, rising sea levels are a bigger security concern than rising Chinese influence

When the Pacific Islands Forum is held in Nauru from September 1, one of the main objectives will be signing a wide-ranging security agreement that covers everything from defence and law and order concerns to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Malcolm Turnbull promised to ‘step up’ Australian engagement
with the Pacific last year. Will it continue now that he’s gone?

The key question heading into the forum is: can the agreement find a balance between the security priorities of Australia and New Zealand and the needs of the Pacific Island nations?

Even though new Prime Minister Scott Morrison is not attending the forum, sending Foreign Minister Marise Payne instead, the Biketawa Plus security agreement remains a key aim for Canberra.

The original Biketawa Declaration was developed as a response to the 2000 coup in Fiji. It has served Australia and the region well, providing a framework for collective action when political tensions and crises occur. However, in the face of rapid change, it looks narrow and dated.

Read the story from The Conversation by the Head of Department, Politics and Philosophy, at La Trobe University, Michael O’Keefe - “For Pacific Island nations, rising sea levels are a bigger security concern than rising Chinese influence.”