A banner at UN Headquarters on the second day of the general debate of the General Assembly’s eightieth session. Photo: UN Photo / Loey Felipe
Pacific Island leaders took turns addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, speaking on a range of issues - from local to global - that impact their countries.
From stating their positions on the Israel-Gaza conflict to deep sea mining, climate change and plastic pollution, the region's heads of government spoke about the issues that matter most to them and their people.
Here's what they said, in order of appearance, during the UNGA general debate:
Nauru
President David Adeang said the world faces unprecedented challenges to peace and security.
He said Nauru stands firmly against war and conflict, believing that dialogue and diplomacy must always prevail over division.
He told world leaders that climate change is not just an environmental crisis, but "a direct threat to our peace, our security and the very survival of our nation".
He reaffirmed Nauru's commitment to the One-China Principle, saying Beijing's partnership has contributed meaningful opportunities for infrastructure, trade, and development that support Nauru's progress.
On deep sea mining, he said the urgency of this issue requires clarity, not just diplomacy.
Kiribati
President Taneti Maamau said Kiribati fully supports the United Nations' push for a world free of nuclear weapons.
He said his nation was committed to addressing the man-made disasters like dumping of nuclear waste, radio water discharges, traversing of nuclear-powered submarines and testing that pose grave risks to our ocean's fragile health.
He said advocating for a nuclear-free ocean and world should be backed by the UN's commitment to peace and security.
He said Kiribati faced climate challenges but remained resilient.
"While some narratives claim our islands are sinking, we have traditional and modern strategies to adapt and thrive."
He reaffirmed the fundamental principles of multilateralism as the cornerstone for addressing global challenges collectively.
Marshall Islands
President Hilda Heine doubled down on her advocacy about the climate crisis, saying her country "bears witness to the sharpest edge of climate change".
She said the scale of impact - and the future of Marshall Islands' youngest generations - depended on whether global powers were working together.
"We need the world to better understand that our security is linked to our fragility, cutting across key indicators. We worry our institutions will not easily withstand future threats - whether if by rising seas or geopolitical competition."
She said the world was confronted with a range of deep risks, any one of which did not bode well for the future of the planet.
Palau
President Surangel Whipps Jr said the world was at war.
He said defence spending was at an all-time high, approaching US$3 trillion annually.
He said small island states like Palau were also at war.
"Our shores are being invaded by seawater. Our homes are being blown away by storms. Our roads are being washed away by torrential rain. Our reefs are overheating. Our fish are disappearing. And our land is on fire. This is our daily battle."
He said ahead of the UN climate conference (COP30) in Belen next month, major carbon emitting countries must align their emissions reductions efforts with a 1.5 degree trajectory.
He said the COP31 must be a Pacific COP, hosted by Australia in partnership with the Pacific Islands.
Federated States of Micronesia
President Wesley Simina said any measures taken under the UN80 initiative must reflect the delicate balance and unique vulnerabilities faced by small island developing states.
He urged UN reforms to ensure the continued resilience, tailored assistance, and participatory voice of Small Island Developing States in the evolving UN system, so that no one was left behind.
He said FMS remains committed to achieving an ambitious global agreement to end plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.
He said there was an urgent need to address the current structure of the United Nations Security Council, which failed to represent the geopolitical realities of the 21st century.
"The exclusive nature of its permanent membership creates inequities and hampers effective responses to global crises."
Solomon Islands
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said the erosion of the UN Charter's principles, the alarming return of unilateralism threatens the very foundation of the multilateral system.
He said the Solomon Islands noted with deep concern that the world was now over armed, spending less on the development agenda and increasingly adopting a militarised posture.
"We need to halt and reverse these non-peaceful trends."
Manele said Solomon Islands welcomed the historical advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on climate change and support ongoing process for a follow-up UN resolution.
He said Solomon Islands supported ongoing efforts to develop a governance framework to manage responsible use of artificial intelligence for development, combat misinformation, cyber security, protection of data and privacy.
Papua New Guinea
Prime Minister James Marape said Papua New Guinea celebrates 50 years of independence and 50 years of membership in the United Nations this year.
He said 50 years ago, PNG entered the UNGA as one of its youngest members, but today, it stood as a free and democratic nation, with unity in diversity, resilience, and vast natural endowments.
Fiji
Prime Minister Rabuka said Fiji reiterates its long-standing support for multilateralism and the role the international rules-based order plays for the status and interests of small states.
He said this year Fiji commemorates 55 years of independence and stands alongside member states and take stock of the 80 years since the founding of the United Nations.
The prime minister said the most critical challenge facing nations in the Pacific region was to find an enduring framework that influenced the strategic competition between the major powers, towards a stable multipolar region where peace prevailed.
He said his 'Ocean of Peace' concept was the Pacific's contribution to global order.
"The vision of the 'Pacific as an Ocean of Peace' is rooted in the noble values of mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence."
He said Fiji was challenged by an upsurge in transnational organised crime.
"Drug trafficking has exploited our vast maritime domain, spanning over 1.3 million square kilometres of ocean. This crisis threatens our national security and social fabric while exploiting our limited capacities."
Tuvalu
Prime Minister Feleti Teo said Tuvalu fully supported the Secretary General's UN80 Initiative, to make the UN more effective and impactful for the millions of lives that depend on it.
He said the achievement of peace, security and sustainable development would hold little value if the poor and the most vulnerable were left behind.
Teo said Tuvalu welcomed the decision of the UNGA to convene another high-level meeting on sea level rise next year at its 81st session in September 2026 with the view to consider a UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise.
Non-communicable diseases (NCD) were the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Pacific region and in the world at large, and Tuvalu was not an exception, he said.
Poor diet and obesity, intrinsically linked to the food security challenges are key contributors to this escalating public health concerns, he said.
Tuvalu welcomed the political commitment demonstrated through the recent adoption of the Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases and the Promotion of Mental Health and Wellbeing, he said.
On the Taiwan issue, he said Tuvalu deeply regretted the continued exclusion of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from the United Nations system.
"Tuvalu holds the strong view that the UNGA Resolution 2758 does not preclude Taiwan's meaningful participation in the UN system and Tuvalu calls for the admission of Taiwan as a member of the United Nations and its specialised agencies."
Tonga
Prime Minister 'Aisake Eke said Tonga would celebrate the 150th anniversary of our Constitution on 4 November.
He said Constitution Day was a profound reminder of Tonga's sovereignty, unity, and enduring independence.
Tonga was proud to have joined the Pacific family in the adoption of the Ocean of Peace Declaration, declaring the Blue Pacific Continent as an Ocean of Peace, he said.
Tonga continues to strengthen laws to protect our children especially those who are susceptible to harm from technology in this digital age and empower our youth, recognising them as the foundation of our nation's future.
The country was firmly committed to safeguarding public health and addressing the dual threats posed by the scourge of drugs and the rise of NCDs, he said.
He said, at the same time, Tonga acknowledged the complex challenges of migration and deportees, while valuing the enduring contributions of its diaspora to national development.
Samoa
Deputy Prime Minister Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo said Samoa's geographical isolation and insularity no longer shielded nor protected it from the increasingly complex and dynamic security challenges.
These challenges include transnational crime especially drug trafficking, nuclear proliferation, challenges to sovereignty, growing geopolitical tensions in our region and humanitarian crises.
He said the rules based international system was being bent out of shape.
The deputy prime minister said continuous inaction on climate change meant detrimental effects on all aspects of Samoan life.
"Climate change remains the greatest existential threat to Samoa and other Pacific SIDS. Its impacts are more extensively felt by SIDS due to our special circumstances, and the lack of capacity to respond quickly and effectively."
He said energy was both a driver and accelerator for Samoa's sustainable development ambition.
He noted digital transformation - including AI and data analytics - offer real opportunities to drive an inclusive, just energy transition, particularly through off-grid solutions and smarter energy planning.
"However, Samoa's level of indebtedness, often worsened by natural disasters, remains a pressing challenge."
Vanuatu
Permanent Representative to the United Nations Odo Tevi told world leaders Vanutu has experienced a number of category 4 and 5 cyclones which have contributed to the erosion of around 30 to 60 percent of its economy.
He said each disaster eroded the country's infrastructure, displaced communities, and set back economic and social progress.
"Recovery is slow and our resilience is tested. The compounding nature of these crises makes adaptation and preparedness ever more urgent - and yet, as a small island developing state, Vanuatu faces limitations in resources, capacity, and access to finance."
He said foreign investments in Vanuatu had been flat and this was due to a combination of factors, one of which was the unjust blacklisting imposed by some of its development partners and the difficulty of accessing funds due to the worsening of correspondent banking relationships.
He said while these measures were often justified as steps toward de-risking, the consequences for countries like Vanuatu were severe.
Tevi said the decolonization process within the UN framework requires enhanced momentum, and it was imperative that sustained dialogue be maintained among all stakeholders.
