Let’s Hear It for the Boe

The Boe Declaration on Regional Security was signed by all members of the Pacific Islands Forum during the 49th Leaders’ meeting in Nauru. It has been introduced and socialised during a period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty. How it has been referenced and articulated has varied as between different actors and this reflects competing priorities as between domestic, regional and international policy. The Boe Declaration is premised on an affirmation that climate change remains the single biggest threat to the signatory countries. This highlights significant cleavages among signatories. We have yet to see how the implementation of this Declaration will work to remedy those or entrench them further.