France and the Forum

Buried in the communique of last month's Pacific Islands Forum, at item 30, is a single sentence: 'Leaders accepted French Polynesia and New Caledonia as full members of the Pacific Islands Forum.' Just a few words signalled a momentous change. Since its founding in 1971, the Forum has been an organisation made up exclusively of sovereign nations, linking Australia, New Zealand and independent island nations. But during their forty-seventh annual meeting at Pohnpei, in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Forum's leaders had decided to welcome two French-controlled territories as full members. The lack of any explanation or declaration in the communique reflects ongoing concerns about France's objectives among some member states, and awareness that other territories might also seek membership. The consensus decision was forged despite calls by leading Kanak and Maohi independence activists to defer a decision, in New Caledonia's case until after a scheduled referendum on independence in 2018.