Great power rivalry threatens to overshadow a summit of some of the world’s smallest island nations

Koror, Palau (AP) — Leaders from some of the smallest states in the world gathered in a tranquil archipelago, bereft of traffic lights, for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting. The host nation, Palau, saw its population surge from 18,000 to 20,000 as delegates from various countries arrived. Ahead of the summit's opening, Palau's president and other senior officials embarked on a cleanup drive around the island, with barbers and tattoo artists preparing to become drivers for the dignitaries and student volunteers to assist them.

While the event exuded the laid-back Pacific vibe, underlying tensions brewed as powerful nations jockeyed for influence in the region.

China and the United States, along with Taiwan, Australia, and New Zealand, have been locked in a struggle to secure alliances with the Pacific island states in recent years. This power play has led to a contentious contest for supremacy, which has also split the forum's members, putting annual gatherings at risk. "The Pacific is our home, not a stage for geopolitical competition," Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr. warned reporters, urging the larger countries not to meddle in the discussions meant to address issues threatening the small island nations, such as climate change and economic struggles.

Despite the seemingly simple nature of the summit, the reality is far from straightforward. The 18 member countries and territories that comprise the Pacific Islands Forum, despite their minuscule populations, hold substantial exclusive economic zones rich in fisheries and seabed minerals. Their scattered locations across the vast Pacific Ocean have made them strategically significant as global tensions intensify.