Most Pacific countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji, recognise Indonesia’s sovereignty over West Papua. At the same time, some Melanesian governments, led by Vanuatu, keep raising human rights concerns and want the UN human rights chief to visit. Indonesia, in turn, says such a visit must be agreed directly with the UN.
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Pacific countries and West Papua at a glance
In short, this is where the main Pacific countries and groups stand.
| Country or group | Position | Latest statement | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Recognises Indonesia’s sovereignty over the Papua provinces | 2024 | RNZ |
| New Zealand | Recognises Indonesia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity | April 2026 | Te Ao Māori News |
| Papua New Guinea | Upholds Indonesia’s sovereignty; supports talks on human rights | October 2026 | PNG Prime Minister’s Office; Human Rights Monitor |
| Fiji | Honours Indonesia’s sovereignty; its prime minister is a regional envoy on Papua | April 2025 | Fiji Sun |
| Vanuatu | Raises human rights concerns and urges a UN visit | September 2026 | Vanuatu Daily Post |
| Solomon Islands | Echoed Vanuatu’s concerns at the UN | September 2026 | Vanuatu Daily Post |
| Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) | Indonesia is an associate member; its status could be reviewed in 2027 | September 2026 | Post-Courier |
| Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) | Indonesia has been a dialogue partner since 2001 | 2019–2026 | PIF Secretariat |
Sources: RNZ; Te Ao Māori News; PNG Prime Minister’s Office; Fiji Sun; Vanuatu Daily Post; Post-Courier; PIF Secretariat.
Why do Australia and New Zealand back Indonesia’s sovereignty?
Both countries treat it as a settled, long-held policy. For example, in 2024 Australia said it “unreservedly recognises Indonesia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Papua provinces”. Its foreign affairs department added that this is a “longstanding and bipartisan position” and is consistent with the Lombok Treaty between the two countries. Australia also said it “condemns violence” (RNZ).
Similarly, New Zealand’s foreign ministry said in April 2026 that recognising Indonesia’s sovereignty is “a long-standing position of successive governments”. Meanwhile, its embassy in Jakarta meets Papuan civil society groups and raises issues with Indonesia “when appropriate” (Te Ao Māori News).
What do Melanesian countries say?
Papua New Guinea, Indonesia’s only land neighbour in the Pacific, takes a balanced line. “Papua New Guinea upholds Indonesia’s sovereignty, but that does not prevent us from standing up for Melanesian communities wherever they are,” Prime Minister James Marape said in 2025. He also said he never called for West Papua to sit at the MSG table (PNG Prime Minister’s Office).
Fiji is even clearer. In April 2025, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said Indonesia had respected Fiji’s sovereignty during its 1987 political crisis, “and that is what we reciprocated with Indonesia” (Fiji Sun). In addition, the MSG chose Rabuka and Marape as special envoys to talk with Indonesia’s president about Papua (Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
Vanuatu, however, is the most critical voice. At the UN General Assembly in September 2026, its ambassador said Vanuatu was “deeply concerned” about reported abuses against Indigenous Papuans. He also urged action on a 2019 Pacific Islands Forum call for a visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Solomon Islands echoed these concerns (Vanuatu Daily Post).
What is Indonesia’s place in Pacific groups?
Indonesia takes part in both main regional bodies. First, it has been a dialogue partner of the Pacific Islands Forum since 2001, and since 2019 it has expanded business and cultural links in the region (PIF Secretariat). Second, it is an associate member of the MSG, while the pro-independence United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) holds observer status (Human Rights Monitor).
Still, the MSG has raised the pressure. In September 2026, its leaders warned that Indonesia’s associate status could be reviewed in 2027 if Jakarta does not allow the UN rights chief to visit. The ULMWP welcomed the decision (Post-Courier).
How does Indonesia respond?
Indonesia rejects the criticism and points to violence by armed groups. In its reply to Vanuatu at the UN, Indonesian diplomat Nona Gae Luna said any visit must be agreed between Indonesia and the UN human rights office, as with all member states, rather than through a regional body. She also noted that teachers, health workers and other civilians have been killed by armed groups. “Any serious discussion of Papua must reflect the full picture,” she said (Vanuatu Daily Post).
What does Indonesia offer Pacific countries?
Beyond diplomacy, Indonesia funds practical projects in the region. For instance, in October 2026 it agreed to give Vanuatu a grant of about IDR90.2 billion (around VT600 million) to renovate its Parliament House and a school in North Efate (Vanuatu Daily Post).
Education is another link. Currently, 76 students from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands study at Indonesian universities on scholarships (Antara). Moreover, in October 2026 the navy hospital ship KRI dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo arrived in Honiara and handed an X-ray machine to the Solomon Islands health ministry. Earlier on the same voyage, it also visited Vanuatu and Fiji (Indo Maritim).
What comes next?
The next test is the UN visit. Pacific Islands Forum leaders asked in 2025 for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit in 2026 (Human Rights Monitor). Therefore, how Jakarta and the UN office handle that request will shape the MSG’s review in 2027. Papua Movement will follow both.
Sources
- RNZ: West Papua accusations fly at Australia, US (2 May 2024)
- Te Ao Māori News: NZ urged to respond to civilian killings in West Papua (15 April 2026)
- Department of Prime Minister and NEC, Papua New Guinea: Prime Minister Marape Clarifies PNG’s Position on West Papua at MSG Summit (2025)
- Fiji Sun: Rabuka Defends Jakarta Ties (30 April 2025)
- Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Prime Minister Rabuka selected as MSG special envoy to address West Papua issue (7 November 2023)
- Vanuatu Daily Post: Indonesia responds to Vanuatu (2 October 2026)
- Vanuatu Daily Post: VT600 Million Indonesian Grant to Fund Parliament Renovation (9 October 2026)
- Post-Courier: MSG puts Indonesia on notice over UN rights visit to West Papua (3 September 2026)
- Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat: SG mission to Indonesia strengthens relations and explores stronger Forum–ASEAN links
- Human Rights Monitor: Melanesian leaders to step up West Papua advocacy as Indonesia objects at UN hearing (8 October 2026)
- Antara: Indonesia awards scholarships to 76 students from PNG, Solomon Islands (23 October 2026)
- Indo Maritim: Kapal Rumah Sakit KRI dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo-991 Tiba di Honiara (18 October 2026) (in Indonesian)
Featured image: Indonesian Navy hospital ship KRI dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo (991), which visited Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea in October 2026. Photo: Indonesian Navy (2024), Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
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