Pacific Islands Forum meeting in turmoil after several leaders pull out of Palau summit

Solomon Islands prime minister cancels his appearance, along with leaders from Fiji, Vanuatu and Samoa Several leaders have pulled out of a the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meeting in Palau at the eleventh hour. The Solomon Islands prime minister, Matthew Wale, has cancelled his appearance after a no-confidence motion was lodged against him at home by the Solomon Islands home affairs minister, Manasseh Maelanga. Maelanga accused Wale of “repeatedly making decisions of matters of national importance without proper consultation with, or the approval of, cabinet, thereby undermining the principles of collective cabinet responsibility, representative democracy and good governance”, according to the ABC. Australia has been in negotiations with the Solomons on a security treaty, with the hope that further negotiations could have taken place on the sidelines of the summit. Fiji’s prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, and his Vanuatu counterpart, Jotham Napat, will also not be attending, with the Samoan leader, La’auli Leuatea Schmidt, another notable absence. The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has confirmed he will still be attending. Oliver Nobetau, the Lowy Institute’s Pacifi