Updated: 3 сентября, 2026 12:26 пп
Israel has officially submitted a bid for development partner status at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). The matter is being considered during the 55th forum leaders’ meeting, which is taking place in the Republic of Palau from August 31 to September 4.
Jnews.az reports that for Israel, this move is part of a strategy to strengthen ties with Pacific countries that traditionally provide Israel with diplomatic support in international organizations, including the UN.
Israel’s diplomatic activity in the region has also intensified in recent times. In June, Israel opened a resident embassy in Suva, the capital of the Republic of Fiji. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar described the embassy as a regional mission serving his country’s interests in the Pacific.
Maya Yaron has been appointed as Israel’s ambassador to Fiji. Her previous work in Israeli missions in Taiwan and Beijing is seen as an important experience for adapting to diplomatic processes in the region amid the ongoing complex competition between China and Taiwan.
Previously, Papua New Guinea opened an embassy in Jerusalem in 2023, and Fiji established its first resident embassy there. The Republic of Nauru has expressed a similar intention.
These steps come as a number of Pacific island nations, including Fiji, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and the Marshall Islands, consistently support Israel during UN General Assembly votes.
Obtaining development partner status will allow Israel to participate in forum initiatives, including projects such as the creation of the Pacific Resilience Facility.
Jerusalem aims to demonstrate that its expertise is useful for the region regardless of a specific island nation’s position in global geopolitical confrontation.
Source: jns.org
