A guide to issues at the Pacific Islands Forum

This year's meeting will be staged in the Cook Islands, chaired by Prime Minister Mark Brown.

Leaders hold bilateral and regional talks, engage in local culture and take part in an all-day closed-door 'leaders retreat' designed to thrash out the toughest issues.

Here are some of the biggest issues PIF attendees will grapple with this year.

CLIMATE CHANGE

The number one issue for the region given climate change is an existential threat to many nations. With increased urgency, nations are ratcheting up their requests of developed countries, and chiefly, Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will reportedly make announcements towards Pacific adaptation and mitigation while attending the PIF summit. Several countries want him to go further and make concrete steps towards a phase out of fossil fuels. Australia is also hoping for support to host the 2026 UN climate change conference, COP31, which it pledges will be a summit for all the Pacific.

HEIGHTENED GEOPOLITICAL INTEREST

China and the United States have bulked up their engagement in recent years, opening embassies, upping aid and looking to bank security deals with nations. Many Pacific nations fear a militarisation of the region, or even conflict. PIF secretary general Henry Puna told NZ media outlet Pacific Mornings "outside partners (are) seeking to exert influence in the region ... and of course, at times that might bring a disruption to our common regional agenda".

AUKUS AND NUCLEAR IMPLICATIONS

With a painful legacy of nuclear testing, Pacific nations have resolved to be nuclear-free, with almost all PIF members signing onto the Treaty of Rarotonga to ban nuclear weapons. While Australia's AUKUS deal to build nuclear-powered submarines does not fall foul of the treaty, some are concerned it violates its spirit, which could cause headaches for Australia's naval ambitions.

FUKUSHIMA WASTEWATER

On the nuclear theme, many Pacific nations hold concerns on Japan's plans to release treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Japan and the United Nations nuclear watchdog IAEA believe it is safe but Pacific nations are skeptical. Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka was one leader who supported the release but after meeting with Melanesian colleagues in the Cook Islands, offered an apology for his statement and instead pledged to walk alongside Pacific nations on the matter.

PIF LEADERSHIP

Nauruan politician Baron Waqa is Micronesia's pick to become PIF secretary general, replacing Henry Puna, at year's end. The former PM is a hugely controversial choice: he's been linked with an Australian Federal Police corruption probe, sacked the country's judiciary and has a track record of stifling media freedoms in his country. Many fear his tenure would be a retrograde step for the region.

SEABED MINING

Pacific nations are split on the question of allowing mining projects on the ocean floor. Vanuatu and Palau are amongst those arguing against the practice on environmental grounds, while Cook Islands and Nauru hope to sponsor operations in their exclusive economic zone that could produce a windfall.

OTHER REGIONAL CONFLICTS

Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict are likely to colour proceedings in the Cook Islands given the gravity of the conflicts. The ABC reports Ukrainian and Israeli diplomats hoped make direct representations to leaders at the summit but have been rebuffed. Many Pacific nations voted against or abstained from a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

WEST PAPUAN INDEPENDENCE

Under Mr Rabuka, Fiji has joined the band of Pacific nations supporting independence for West Papua from Indonesia: a position Australia does not support. Mr Rabuka and his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape have been tasked with progressing the issue by the Indonesians by a Melanesian sub-grouping: a sign the issue is unlikely to get full PIF support.

IMMIGRATION

Various Pacific leaders, including Samoan prime minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, have asked Australian and New Zealand leaders to consider an EU-style free movement region in the Pacific that could break down expensive and logistically challenging travel barriers for most Pacific citizens. Both of the regional heavyweights have resisted thus far.

Australian Associated Press