The third Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) was held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG), on 22 May 2023, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Pacific island nation, as part of his three nation tour to Japan, PNG and Australia, aimed towards fostering stronger linkages with partner countries. Prime Minister’s visit to PNG is crucial, as it is the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country. PM Modi and PM James Marape of PNG, co-hosted the FIPIC III on 22 May 2023, attended by PM Modi and leaders of the 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs).
FIPIC: Brief Background
FIPIC, a multinational grouping, including India and 14 PICs, was launched during the PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Fiji, in November 2014. It marked India’s renewed interest in the island region. The formation of action-oriented FIPIC has been the most important development in facilitating India’s interaction with the PICs in recent years.
The inaugural FIPIC summit, at the level of Heads of Government was held in Suva, Fiji, on November 19, 2014, aimed at building closer partnerships with the PICs. The second Summit of the FIPIC Forum was hosted by India at Jaipur, Rajasthan, on 21-22 August 2015. Building on the first summit, discussions took place on various issues of significance to the members such as climate change, clean energy, food security and reform of the United Nations.
PM Narendra Modi had once again met with the leaders of the Pacific Islands Developing States, in plurilateral format, in New York on the sidelines of the 74th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), in September 2019. At the meeting, PM Modi had stressed that India and the PICs have shared values and a shared future, and India is “committed to advancing development priorities of the PICs”.[1]
India’s interaction with the region goes back to the colonial era, in the early 19th century when Indian workers were taken to the region as indentured plantation labourers, a large number of them settled there. In the post-colonial period, Pacific region including the PICs did not find much significance in India’s foreign policy. India’s interaction with the PICs largely revolve around its engagement with Fiji mainly driven by the presence of sizeable Indian diaspora; nearly 40 percent of Fiji’s population is of Indian origin and about 3000 Indians live in PNG.
However, as India looks beyond its immediate region, with strategic ambitions in the wider Indo-Pacific region, India’s approach towards the South Pacific is gradually changing. In recent years, New Delhi has been reaching out to these small island states, highlighting the government’s willingness for greater engagement particularly in the light of the reinvigorated ‘Act East Policy’, with enhanced geographical reach and strategic substance and the Indo-Pacific vision.
Over the years, India has announced enhanced grant-in-aids to the Pacific island nations and concessional Line of Credits which can be availed by them for undertaking solar, renewable energy and climate related projects. India has announced US$200,000 grant-in-aid to be provided to the PICs annually.[2]
India has also extended support to the PIC’s in the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sectors, sent technical experts in the fields of agriculture, healthcare and IT. Assistance has also come in the form of technical consultancy, disaster relief, and humanitarian aid in case of cyclones in the region, educational scholarships and a wide range of capacity building programmes including short-term civilian and military training courses.
Overall in recent years, there has been a gradual positive shift in India’s approach towards the PICs. This change can be attributed to various geopolitical, economic and strategic factors. India’s approach toward the PICs focuses on a more transparent and inclusive relationship building on its historical ties with the countries like Fiji. India is a committed development partner for Island countries in the Pacific region and India’s efforts in the region are guided by priorities of the island countries. Here the role of FIPIC, as a multilateral platform, to discuss common areas of cooperation and facilitating multidimensional cooperation, is significant.
FIPIC III: Key Takeaways
At the third FIPIC summit, PM Modi reiterated that the PIC’s are ‘not small but large ocean counhtries’.[3] He also mentioned that, PICs form an important part of the voice of the Global South, which are more vulnerable to challenges including climate change, natural disasters, hunger, poverty, and various health-related challenges, challenges to supply chains of food and fuel, fertiliser, and pharmaceuticals. During the pandemic, India has been providing necessary assistance to island countries in the Pacific whether it was in the form of vaccines or essential medicines, wheat or sugar, in line with its capabilities.[4]
At the FIPIC III Summit a number of new initiatives including a 12 step Action Plan were announced by India, in line with needs of the PICs, as PM Modi said “India respects your priorities”,[5] to further strengthen relationship between India and PICs.
Some of the important initiatives announced in healthcare and medicine sector, included establishing a super-specialty cardiology hospital in Fiji, dialysis units in all the 14 Pacific island countries, sea ambulances to be provided to all the 14 PICs. India proposed to start centers similar to ‘Jan Aushadhi’ for affordable medicines and also announced setting up of yoga centers in the islands countries.[6]
Most of the economic activities in these countries fall under the unorganised sector. The development of small industries can speed up the process of economic development. In the past, India has provided financial assistance for SME sector in these countries, helping many small scale entrepreneurs to develop their own business. At FIPIC III, India announced projects for development of SME sector in every PIC, under which machinery and technology supplies will be provided and also capacity building programmes will be conducted.[7]
India also promised assistance in the areas of solar power and water scarcity. India has emphasised increasing the share of renewable energy in the energy mix to deal with impacts of climate change. In the past, India has organized training programmes for affordable renewable energy (solar) for elderly women (solar mamas) from these island countries at Barefoot College in Rajasthan.
Climate change and sustainable development are crucial areas of concern in the island region, where a closer partnership can be developed for effective and concrete solutions. India has welcomed the decision of some of the regional countries joining the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and has also invited the Pacific leaders to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). CDRI and ISA are intrinsic to India’s regional and global commitment to climate change agenda.
Under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), India continues to provide assistance to PICs, at the Summit India announced “Sagar Amrut Scholarship" scheme for the Pacific Island countries today. Under this program, 1000 ITEC training opportunities will be provided in the next five years.[8] During the Summit, PM Narendra Modi also interacted with the alumni of the ITEC courses. Since the last Summit, India has trained close to 1000 officials from all countries in this region, these include government officials, professionals and community leaders.[9]
In the field of technology, India announced that the Centre of Excellence in PNG will be upgraded into "Regional Information Technology and Cyber security Hub’.[10]
During his visit, PM Modi also launched the Sustainable Coastal and Ocean Research Institute (SCORI), set up at the University of the South Pacific, Fiji. The Institute built by India’s assistance, will serve as a focal point for research and development, some of the most pressing regional concerns including coastal vulnerability, coastal erosion and coastal protection, Ocean state Forecast, potential fishing zones, tsunami forecasting, etc.[11]
All these initiatives announced, once again reiterate that India’s approach to development when it comes to cooperation with PIC’s is human centric and not transactional. India’s development partnership aims at being inclusive and sustainable to reduce inequality and contribute to the empowerment of people.
On the sidelines of the FIPIC Summit, PM Modi also met bilaterally with PM James Marape of PNG, Mr Chris Hipkins, PM of New Zealand, PM Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji, PM Manasseh Sogavare of Solomon Islands and also leaders of Kiribati, Niue, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu, Tonga, Nauru, Palau. PM also met Secretary General of PIF, Henry Puna on the sidelines. In these meeting two sides discussed ways to further strengthen India ties with island nation’s in a host of sectors.
During PM Modi’s successful visit, in a special ceremony Governor-General of PNG conferred Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi with the Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu (GCL), the highest civilian award of PNG.[12] In another, ceremony, PM of Fiji Sitiveni Rabuka, on behalf of President of Fiji, bestowed PM Modi with Fiji’s highest honor-the Companion of the Order.
Current Strategic Landscape in the Pacific Island Region
The South Pacific sub-region of the Indo-Pacific has been witnessing many significant developments in recent years. The region, which has so far remained on the sidelines of the popular discourse on the Indo-Pacific, as also from the point of view of great power contestations for much of the post-war period, is experiencing increasing engagement from major global powers.
The most effective and disruptive engagement by far in the region has come from China. Beijing is bolstering its economic and diplomatic footprints in the region. China’s aid programmes and loans on highly unfavourable terms to most of the island countries, challenge their economic stability and put them under mounting debt pressure, without a promise of delivering real benefits. Beijing, signing the Framework Agreement for Security Cooperation with Solomon Islands in April 2022, was an alarming development for the regional players. China’s assertive presence in the region has meant that other actors, new and old, are resetting their priorities and stepping up engagement in the Pacific.
The month of May 2023 itself, witnessed series of high-level activities in the region. On the same day, as the 3rd FIPIC Summit was held, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken attended Dialogue in PNG with PIF leaders, after President Biden could not attend this meeting with the island countries. Secretary Blinken formally invited Pacific leaders to Washington, later in the year, for a second US-Pacific Leaders Summit, to continue conversations.
President Biden had hosted the first ever ‘US-Pacific Island Country Summit’ in Washington, DC on 28-29 September 2022. The first ever ‘Pacific Partnership Strategy’ released after the Summit highlighted that elevating broader and deeper engagement with the Pacific Islands both individually and collectively is a priority of the US’ foreign policy.[13] US has expressed concerns over China’s increasing investment across the region and lack of transparency in its actions.
US has been taking the region a lot more seriously, and has expressed that US’ engagement in the Pacific Islands needs to go beyond security issues. US Indo-Pacific Strategy of the United States2022, highlights that, the US will also help build the defence capacity of partners in the Pacific Islands, and open new embassies and expand the US Coast Guard presence and cooperation in the region, with a focus on advising, training, deployment, and capacity-building.[14] The US National Security Strategy 2022, mentions that the US plans to “expand regional diplomatic, development, and economic engagement, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands”. The focus areas to be addressed will include climate change, covid-19 and China’s coercive behaviour.[15] So clearly US is re-engaging with the region in a major way.
US signed the Compact of Free Association Agreement with Palau on 22 May 2023 and Federated States of Micronesia, on 23 May 2023. Secretary Blinken said that the US is looking forward to entering negotiations with the Republic of the Marshall Islands very soon, on a similar agreement.[16]
After the Dialogue with US, Pacific Leaders head to South Korea for the first ‘Korea-Pacific Islands Summit’ on May 29-30, 2023 on the theme “Navigating towards Co-Prosperity: Strengthening Cooperation with the Blue Pacific".[17] At the Summit, President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, said that “the Pacific Islands Forum is a key partner in the Republic of Korea's Indo-Pacific Strategy,".[18]
Then there is France, having overseas territories in the region, has its own regular ‘France-Oceania summit’ since 2002. Japan also hosts Summit-level meeting named Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) every three years since 1997. Regional players; Australia and New Zealand have their own policies to enhance their engagement with the neighboring island countries. PICs have also found mention on the agenda of the plurilateral Quad, at the recent Quad Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, the four sides recommitted to enhance partnership with the PICs.[19] So clearly, the PICs are witnessing increasing attention from regional and extra regional powers.
Conclusion
Despite their small size the islands in the Pacific Ocean, historically have been game changers. These small islands are important from the point of view of forward power projection by the major powers in the region. PICs while geographically small yet they have considerable economic, strategic and political significance in the international affairs. Given the current backdrop, the region is likely to become an increasingly contested strategic space in coming times, with growing interests of regional and extra-regional players. It is crucial to see how small island countries navigate through the changing geopolitical environment.
Amidst the geopolitical shifts in the region, India’s approach towards the PICs focuses on a transparent, need-based approach and inclusive relationship with the region, which is not bound by conditions. The recent efforts to engage with the region have brought India much closer to these countries. The overall aim of India’s outreach remains, to contribute to empowerment and improvement of the quality of people’s lives. The formation of FIPIC has given a much-needed push to India’s relations with the PICs. The Group format has been a force multiplier to bilateral ties. The FIPIC III is a step in right direction for further enhancing scope and intensity of India’s engagement with the PICs, with the fundamental principle of respect for priorities of these countries.
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*Dr. Pragya Pandey, Research Fellow, Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi
Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal.
Endnotes
[1] Prime Minister Meets Pacific Island Leaders, 25 September 2019, https://www.narendramodi.in/pm-s-remarks-at-india-pacific-islands-leaders-meeting-546591
[2] I. bid
[3] English translation of Prime Minister's opening statement at the FIPIC III Summit, May 22, 2023, https://www.mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl/36587/English_translation_of_Prime_Ministers_opening_statement_at_the_FIPIC_III_Summit
[4] I.bid
[5] English translation of Prime Minister's closing statement at the FIPIC III Summit, 22 May 2023, https://www.mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl/36588/English_translation_of_Prime_Ministers_closing_statement_at_the_FIPIC_III_Summit
[6] I.bid
[7] I.bid
[8] Ibid
[9] Prime Minister’s Interaction with ITEC scholars in Papua New Guinea, May 22, 2023, https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/36591/Prime_Ministers_Interaction_with_ITEC_scholars_in_Papua_New_Guinea
[10] English translation of Prime Minister's closing statement at the FIPIC III Summit, 22 May 2023, https://www.mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl/36588/English_translation_of_Prime_Ministers_closing_statement_at_the_FIPIC_III_Summit
[11] Sustainable Coastal and Ocean Research Institute (SCORI) successfully launched at USP, Press Release 24, May 2023, https://www.usp.ac.fj/news/sustainable-coastal-and-ocean-research-institute-scori-successfully-launched-at-usp/
[12]Prime Minister honoured with the highest civilian award of Papua New Guinea, May 22, 2023, https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/36592/Prime_Minister_honoured_with_the_highest_civilian_award_of_Papua_New_Guinea
[13] Fact Sheet: President Biden Unveils First-Ever Pacific Partnership Strategy, The White House, September 29, 2022https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/09/29/fact-sheet-president-biden-unveils-first-ever-pacific-partnership-strategy/ , Accessed 7 0October 2022.
[14] Indo-Pacific Strategy of the United States , 22 February 2022, The White House, chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/U.S.-Indo-Pacific-Strategy.pdf, Accessed on June 25, 2022.
[15] United States, “National Security Strategy”, The White House, October 12, 2022, chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Biden-Harris-Administrations-National-Security-Strategy-10.2022.pdf
[16] U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Dialogue in Papua New Guinea, 22 May 2023, https://www.state.gov/u-s-pacific-islands-forum-leaders-dialogue-in-papua-new-guinea/
[17] 2023 Korea-Pacific Islands Summit, https://2023rokpisummit.kr/?menuno=5
[18] Yoon, Pacific island leaders agree to further cooperation on climate crisis, development, 29 May 2023, https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230529003600315
[19] Quad Leaders’ Joint Statement, May 20, 2023, https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/36571/Quad_Leaders_Joint_Statement