South Pacific Insight

Headline summaries on stability, security, and foreign influence developments across the South Pacific.

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Latest Reporting

Resilience Snapshot

Updated: 13 January 2026

17 - 30 December 2025

Vanuatu:

  • Prime Minister Napat likely to maintain continued coalition backing for the medium-term

Fiji:

  • Routine cabinet reshuffle indicates focus on economic issues in the lead up to the 2026 general election

  • Proposed legal reforms to catch up with increased transnational crime investigative activity

Tonga:

  • Prime Minister Fakafanua and King Tupou VI expected to remain generally aligned

Samoa:

  • Prime Minister fears public service corruption enabling transnational drug trafficking

Region:

  • 39 other security activities in-brief.

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3-16 December 2025

Papua New Guinea-Bougainville:

  • Papua New Guinea progresses Bougainville’s path toward independence in 2027

Papua New Guinea-Australia-Indonesia:

  • Trilateral meeting unlikely to produce policy changes in the short term

New Caledonia:

  • March referendum highly unlikely to go ahead

Vanuatu:

  • Courts will decide if Prime Minister to face a difficult vote of no confidence

Tonga:

  • Economic priorities unlikely to change under new prime minister

Region:

  • 43 other security activities in-brief

19 November - 2 December 2025

Papua New Guinea:

  • Foreign Policy White Paper likely indicates indirect preference for security and bilateralism

Solomon Islands:

  • New regulations and drug-testing unlikely to control drug inflow

  • Australia-Solomon Islands policing agreement likely to continue to be delayed until Australian obligations watered down

New Caledonia:

  • 8 December Congressional vote will indicate whether Bougival referendum to go ahead in March 2026

Tonga:

  • Prime Minister ‘Aisake Eke likely to retain premiership

Samoa:

  • Criticism of media freedom and health likely to persist during PM Schmidt’s governmental term

Region:

  • 40 other security activities in-brief

5-18 November 2025

Papua New Guinea:

  • Clash unlikely to threaten national security

New Caledonia:

  • Minister visit reduces tensions but prolongs political negotiations

Vanuatu:

  • China grant very likely an incentive to delay the Nakamal Agreement

  • Government takes measures to ensure sovereignty before signing Nakamal Agreement

Fiji:

  • Traditional reconciliation methods almost certain to continue for landowner and commercial venture disputes

Tonga:

  • Noble comments highly likely to undermine public support for PM Eke

Region:

  • All countries highly likely to require external assistance in response to disasters in 2025-2026 tropical cyclone season

  • 31 other security activities in-brief

22 October - 4 November 2025

Papua New Guinea:

  • Marape Government likely to remain until 2027 election

New Caledonia:

  • FLNKS likely to focus on dialogue until after Minister’s visit

Fiji:

  • Resignation of deputy prime ministers to likely affect coalition support

Tonga:

  • Election-related violence unlikely during and after polls

Samoa:

  • Proactive police presence likely in Apia over 8-9 November ahead of league final

Region:

  • Government cyclone season preparations likely to reduce some impact from extreme weather

  • 34 other security activities in-brief

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