Yet it is an open question if the UN and international community can adequately speakto this emerging threat, and if our closest traditional partners can answer our call with atrue partnership which goes well beyond media statements, but one which makes adramatic difference in our local communities.

welcome the recent Japan-Pacific lslands Defense Dialogue as a key confidence-building measure against authoritarian influence

Small and vulnerable nations such as my own are in dire need of a stronger UnitedNations. While we are not naive to the difficult challenges facing us all, we cannot forgetthat the UN was created not only to be inclusive of global diversity, but also toceaselessly work to achieve common ideals of democracy, free and secure societies,and basic universal human rights. lf we cannot remember the mistakes which led to thelast century's open global military conflicts, than my fear is that we are doomed to repeatthem.Leadership must come from all who are committed to act - small and large nations alike.We cannot abide by attempts to rewrite the script on universal human rights. And myown Pacific islands region faces an emerging security threat in the form of geopoliticalcompetition by the world's largest powers - are we again to be caught in the middle ofa tug-of-war? Throughout my nation's young history, we have remained true to thepursuit of an independent and free democracy which assures basic and individual humanrights, even as we tackle steep development challenges. As island leaders, we mustremain firmly in control of our commitment to a free and open lndo-Pacific, and standapart from any who would seek to have us trade our core values for easy inducement