Pacific Oceans & Minerals: Pacific Islands Forum leaders in Palau backed a stronger regional push on ocean sovereignty, fisheries, deep-sea minerals and marine pollution, and set up work for the 2027 BBNJ talks. Missile Testing Split: Leaders agreed to demand more transparency and at least 24 hours’ notice for missile tests, but Naoero (formerly Nauru) publicly dissented—highlighting a rare crack in regional unity. Forum Unity Under Strain: The 55th Pacific Islands Forum is already marked by missing leaders and heightened great-power rivalry, with Taiwan’s presence and China’s anger adding pressure to consensus decision-making. Seabed Mining Caution (Cook Islands): Cook Islands PM Mark Brown says the country will stay with science and research before any extraction, as warnings grow about legal and environmental risks from investor disputes. Biosecurity Standards (Guam): Guam’s biosecurity push gets a boost as it takes a regional seat to help finish long-delayed invasive species planning. Shipping Climate Talks: UN negotiations on net-zero rules for international shipping are back on the table, with a global carbon price on the line. Nature-Based Solutions (Pacific): The Pacific Community reiterates its push for nature-based solutions to protect reefs and biodiversity as climate impacts intensify. Phosphate Mining Opposition: Namibia is urged to avoid repeating phosphate mining mistakes, with Nauru cited as a cautionary tale. Nauru Link in Regional Security: Nauru’s David Adeang appears in Australia’s Palau discussions, underscoring how forum diplomacy is feeding into Pacific security and governance priorities.