There are moments in history when the moral clarity of leadership in one region sends a ripple of urgency across oceans. That moment is now, and it comes not from the usual suspects in global power politics, but from the Caribbean. In a rousing and fearless address, a Caribbean leader laid bare the existential threats facing small island developing states (SIDS)—threats which echo loudly across the Pacific. Her speech was not just a wake-up call for her region, but a blueprint for resilience and solidarity that the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) must urgently study, internalize, and act upon.

Caribbean Courage: Speaking the Truth Without Fear

The Caribbean leader did not mince words. From climate change to global trade wars, from misinformation to economic dependency, she painted a bleak but honest picture of the world we now inhabit. It was not a speech written for applause or international diplomacy—it was a plea for self-reliance, unity, and immediate action. She acknowledged that while Caribbean states may be small, the threats they face are large, systemic, and worsening.

Contrast this with the often cautious, diluted, and bureaucratically worded communiqués that emerge from Pacific leaders’ summits. The Pacific Islands Forum, despite decades of meetings, declarations, and strategies, has not consistently matched the gravity of the crises with the urgency they demand. The Caribbean is showing us how to lead with moral clarity—and the Pacific must follow.

Why the Pacific Should Listen Closely

1. Shared Vulnerabilities, Shared Lessons

Like the Caribbean, the Pacific is one of the most import-dependent regions in the world. We rely heavily on global supply chains, particularly those routed through the United States, Australia, and Asia. We are equally exposed to food insecurity, climate shocks, rising prices, and the erosion of global order. What the Caribbean faces today, the Pacific may face tomorrow—or is already facing.

1. Strategic Regionalism Is Not a Buzzword—It’s a Lifeline

The Caribbean leader’s rallying cry was simple: Buy local. Support regional trade. Collaborate on tourism. These are not just economic strategies—they are survival tactics. In the Pacific, we often talk about regionalism, but how often do we act on it? Our economies remain fragmented, our transportation systems underdeveloped, and our leaders too often caught in donor-led agendas instead of home-grown solutions.

We need a Pacific equivalent to CARICOM’s 25 by 2025 food initiative. We need a regional food security plan, a regional tourism resilience strategy, and a commitment to inter-island trade using Pacific-owned shipping lines. It’s time to make regionalism real.

Time for the PIF to Speak with One Voice—and With Conviction

If there was ever a time for the Pacific Islands Forum to become a political force instead of just a diplomatic mechanism, it is now. The leader from the Caribbean spoke with dignity, but also with demands. She did not ask global powers for charity—she asked for respect, for dialogue, and for historical recognition of ties that bind.

The Pacific must do the same. The Forum must:

• Re-engage with the U.S., China, and Europe at the highest level and demand clarity on trade and development policies that will affect us.
• Demand climate finance not as aid, but as compensation for loss and damage caused by emissions we did not create.
• Invest in intra-Pacific trade and connectivity, including small-scale shipping, shared warehousing, and digital trade.

Develop emergency regional procurement hubs for food, medicine, and fuel to cushion shocks from global supply chain disruptions.