Commonwealth Secretariat head Patricia Scotland, left, and Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa in Apia. 20 October 2024 Photo: Facebook / Samoa CHOGM 2024
A geopolitical expert says small states are feeling ignored when it comes to large global events and this will likely be talked about at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that starts in Samoa today.
It is the first time the biennial event has been hosted by a Pacific island nation and is also the first time King Charles will deliver the opening address as Head of the Commonwealth.
Professor of Politics and International Relations at Otago University, Dr Robert Patman, told RNZ Morning Report that, as hosts, Samoa want to discuss the role that small states have in international diplomacy.
"There is a feeling, particularly with the events in Ukraine and Gaza, that middle powers and small states are being largely bypassed," he said.
Patman said climate change will also be a big point of discussion with many Pacific Island nations viewing it as the number one security concern.
"What is interesting about this is they are going to push back against the idea that the US-China rivalry will determine the future of the world."
Delegations from 56 countries will converge on Apia for a series of side meetings and forums throughout the week, before the heads of government meeting itself on Friday and Saturday.
The theme of this year's meeting is, 'One Resilient Common Future', and discussions will focus on climate change, and strengthening democratic institutions.
"There will be an oceans declaration, which is very important to us," Samoan Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa told RNZ Pacific.
"Associated with that is the level of sea-level rise for which there was a special session at the last [United Nations General Assembly] meeting in September. It is all climate-related of course."
New Zealand's Prime Minister is set to arrive on Thursday, while King Charles will arrive on Friday, after his visit to Australia.
Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is hoping his country's political issues will serve as a warning to other commonwealth nations.
The country was suspended from the grouping in 2006 following a military coup d'état. It was reinstated as a full member in September 2014.
"What else can we contribute apart from our own lessons that we have learned about how much the Commonwealth valued democratic systems and well being of the nation."
"Now that we are back, we hope everybody will bear in mind that lesson; behave or be out," he said.
