Guam and American Samoa have upgraded from observer to associate member status in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). This change lets them speak at leaders’ meetings and nominate participants for forum working groups.
The push for this upgrade is based on their shared regional concerns with PIF members.
Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown, said a new policy will guide their engagement until the Forum reviews, and possibly change, its rules next year. "I don’t expect to see the change in criteria for associate membership to result in the loss of membership," he said.
Guam and American Samoa now join Tokelau, a dependent territory of New Zealand, and the French island collectivity of Wallis and Futuna, as associate members.
