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Breakout Session | Pacific Islands: Voice and Agency in Regional Security Conversations (SYNESIS Stage)

Small island nations in the Pacific are increasingly important players in the strategic calculus of the Indo-Pacific. These states must balance relations with major powers while maintaining sovereignty and regional stability. This panel will explore how Pacific Island nations communicate their security concerns, navigate diplomatic engagement with powers like China, the U.S., and Australia, and manage their role in regional alliances and security frameworks. Key discussions will include how these nations use their collective voice to shape regional security discourse while protecting their own interests.

15:00 - 16:00
UTC+3 (EEST)
speaker
Adrian J. Arjun
Consultant
speaker
speaker
Dr. Anna Powles
Associate Professor, Centre for Defence and Security Studies, Massey University
speaker
speaker
Jose Sousa-Santos
Associate Professor of Practice Head, Pacific Regional Security Hub, University of Canterbury
speaker
moderator
Eden Cole
Director, Raidillon Associates SRL
moderator