The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have formalised their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on 23 September 2026 on the margins of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Signed by PIF Secretary-General Baron Divavesi Waqa and CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, the MoU establishes a framework for strengthened cooperation between the regions and provides a platform to advance shared priorities of Small Island and Low-Lying Coastal Developing States (SIDS).
Secretary-General Waqa welcomed the agreement as a foundation for a deeper and more structured Pacific–Caribbean partnership.
“Our voices are strongest when we advocate together on issues affecting our peoples and our future. Today’s signing marks the beginning of a stronger partnership between the Pacific and Caribbean, enabling us to advance shared SIDS priorities and ensure they remain visible, influential and action-oriented in global decision-making,” he said.
Speaking at the signing, Dr. Barnett said, “This MoU marks a pivotal moment in South-South cooperation between CARICOM and the Pacific Islands Forum. As regions comprised largely of Small Island and Low-Lying Coastal Developing States, we share common vulnerabilities, from the acute impacts of climate change to the unique economic pressures facing our nations.”
She added, “By formalising our partnership today, we are strengthening our collective advocacy on the global stage, amplifying our shared priorities, and building practical frameworks for collaboration that will directly benefit the people of both the Caribbean and the Pacific.”
The MoU provides a basis for the two regions to strengthen collective advocacy, share knowledge and expertise, and pursue practical cooperation on issues of common interest, reinforcing the voice and influence of SIDS in international processes.
The Pacific Islands Forum is a regional bloc that brings together 18 member countries and territories, and is headquartered in Suva, Fiji. The Caribbean Community is a regional integration movement comprising 15 Member and 8 Associate Member States, with headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana.
