Kiribati withdraws from Pacific Islands Forum in blow to regional body

President says it will not be attending forum because of failure to address concerns of Micronesian countries

The key diplomatic body in the Pacific has been dealt a devastating blow on the eve of its first in-person meeting since the pandemic, as Kiribati announced it would be withdrawing from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).

The Pacific has become a site of intense geostrategic competition, as a result of increased interest from China, and Kiribati's withdrawal will weaken the forum at a time when Pacific regionalism in the face of fierce geopolitical attention has never been more important.