Unified Pacific powerhouse

in coming decades on issues including economic development, ocean protection and climate change. ‘‘The Pacific leaders have got a very clear sense that with the level of contest in the Pacific region, they [are] certainly in a prime position . . . to address some action points, and the action points are clearly geared towards addressing climate change.’’

Mahuta said the forum could have authority in the region akin to Asean’s ‘‘centrality’’ in southeast Asia. Leaders of the forum will meet in the Cook Islands in November.

‘‘It would not surprise me at all if there are further, broader strategic conversations between the connection of Asean and the Pacific Island Forum, and what they might come together on, so that there is an Indo-pacific prioritisation of interests.’’

Asean, the Association for Southeast Asian Nations, comprises 10 countries and was begun by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand in 1967 as an alliance against communism. It has since become the central decisionmaking body in the region, agreeing on how to manage security issues and setting rules for free trade. Countries outside the region frequently defer to Asean ‘‘centrality’’, the premise that no other external power supplants the grouping.

Dr Anna Powles, a Pacific security expert and senior lecturer at Massey University, recently advocated for the forum to be modelled on Asean, to better manage geo-strategic competition and facilitate dialogue between

Pacific countries and external powers. ‘‘There is an opportunity for partners such as New Zealand to support initiatives like this,’’ she said. Rabuka, in his comments yesterday, appeared to be calling for ‘‘greater collective security, perhaps in the form of a collective security arrangement’’.

‘‘This speaks to concerns that the pursuit of security deals by external partners is disruptive and potentially undermines regional security priorities and architecture,’’ Powles said.

‘‘The pursuit of security deals by external partners is disruptive.’’ Dr Anna Powles Massey University