AGP Executive Report

Pacific Security & Militarisation: RNZ reports New Zealand is pushing Pacific “buy-in” for closer defence force integration as Australia and NZ deepen cooperation with Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu to tackle transnational crime—while critics warn the region’s “Ocean of Peace” is slipping. Global Climate Accountability: The UN General Assembly backed a landmark ICJ climate ruling with 141 votes for binding state duties, a move that traces back to Pacific youth campaigning via USP. Tonga Health Diplomacy: Tonga urged “digitize access, not exclusion” at the World Health Assembly, calling for shared global action on digital health, climate-resilient financing and primary care. Tonga Resilience & Learning: Tonga marked 30 years of Ocean of Light School and launched a $10m Tonga–Australia disaster preparedness partnership. Food, Fuel & Risk: A Fiji fuel-price shock shows how oil vulnerability can ripple through Pacific costs and livelihoods. Environment Watch: Students at TNU warn intensive farming may be raising soil acidity on Tongatapu.

UN Climate Accountability: The UN General Assembly backed a landmark ICJ advisory opinion on states’ binding duties to prevent climate harm, with 141 countries voting yes—an important legal push for Pacific nations that have long argued climate responsibility must be more than politics. Tonga’s Regional Leadership: Tonga hosted the 101st USP Council Meeting in Nuku’alofa, with the Prince Regent urging principled, people-first stewardship for a shared Pacific institution. Trade That Delivers: At the PACER Plus Joint Committee in Tonga, leaders warned that the next phase must move from building frameworks to delivering measurable benefits for small businesses and vulnerable communities. Soil Health Warning: Tonga National University students report rising soil acidity in heavily farmed parts of Tongatapu, flagging risks to long-term crop productivity. Pacific Security Focus: In Fiji, Pacific police ministers backed Pacific-led, prevention-based cooperation against transnational crime and drug harm. Meth Crisis Alert: A Pacific Security College report calls for a regional, health-and-law approach to the growing meth-driven HIV threat. Tonga Disaster Prep: Australia and Tonga signed a $10m partnership to strengthen preparedness and community resilience. Deep-Sea Mining Line: Tonga’s PM said there will be no mining in Tonga’s own waters “for now,” pending science and Pacific-led cooperation.

UN Climate Court Push: The UN has backed a landmark ICJ advisory opinion on climate harm, with New Zealand joining 141 countries—turning climate responsibility from politics into enforceable state obligations. Pacific Security & Drugs: Tonga’s PM Mark Brown backed Pacific-led, prevention-first policing at Fiji’s inaugural Pacific Police Ministers Meeting, as a separate regional report warns the meth crisis is driving HIV and broader security risks. Tonga Budget Pressure: Tonga tabled a 2026/27 budget of 929.5m paʻanga with a 38.1m deficit, citing electricity subsidies, cost-of-living support, and help for Lulutai Airlines. Ocean Policy Shift: Tonga’s PM says there’ll be no deep-sea mining in Tonga’s own waters “for now,” with future calls guided by science and Pacific cooperation. Disaster Resilience: Tonga and Australia launched a $10m partnership to strengthen preparedness and community recovery. Health & Services: Open-heart surgery capacity is expanding locally in Fiji, easing pressure on families who previously had to travel.

Pacific Policing Push: Fiji and Australia co-chaired the inaugural Pacific Police Ministers’ Meeting in Momi Bay, with Tonga and other partners at leaders/minister level, aiming to turn Pacific-led cooperation into coordinated, intelligence-led action against transnational crime. Tonga Budget Pressure: Tonga tabled a $929.5m paʻanga 2026/27 budget with a $38.1m deficit, driven by electricity subsidies, cost-of-living support, and backing for Lulutai Airlines. Deep-Sea Mining Line in the Sand: Prime Minister Lord Fakafānua said Tonga will not mine in its own waters “for now,” and will rely on international law and science for any future decisions beyond national limits. Ocean Governance Momentum: At the Melanesian Ocean Summit in PNG, leaders highlighted stewardship and science-based ocean management, while PNG announced new embassies in Tonga, the Marshall Islands and Vanuatu to deepen regional ties. Health & Climate Watch: Fiji and the wider Pacific keep building local capacity for heart surgery, while Samoa is starting research on how classroom heat and humidity affect children’s learning and wellbeing.

Pacific Security Push: Fiji and Australia co-chaired the inaugural Pacific Police Ministers’ Meeting in Momi Bay, with Tonga and other regional ministers backing Pacific-led, intelligence-driven action against transnational crime. Tonga Budget Pressure: Tonga’s 2026/27 national budget lands at TOP 929.5m with a TOP 38.1m deficit, driven by electricity subsidies, a cost-of-living adjustment, and support for Lulutai Airlines. Ocean Policy Turning Point: Tonga’s PM says there will be “no mining in Tonga’s own waters for now,” with future decisions tied to science and Pacific cooperation. Disaster Resilience Funding: Australia and Tonga launched a AUD$10m disaster preparedness partnership in Nuku’alofa, backing government and community groups. Health at Home: Fiji-based surgeons are expanding local open-heart surgery access, easing families’ need to fund overseas treatment. Marine Science Surprise: Researchers identified a new ghost pipefish species in the southwest Pacific, including Tonga—so well camouflaged it was mislabelled for decades.

Pacific security pressure: A new GAO report says the Trump administration is failing to staff legally required roles for Freely Associated States (FSM, Marshall Islands, Palau), weakening their ability to meet reporting duties—at a time the region is a top U.S. defense priority. Tonga budget reality check: Tonga’s 2026/27 national budget lands at 929.5m paʻanga with a 38.1m deficit, driven by electricity subsidies, cost-of-living support, and backing Lulutai Airlines. Deep-sea mining line in the sand: Tonga’s PM says there will be “no mining in Tonga’s own waters for now,” with any future decisions tied to science and international law. Disaster resilience push: Tonga and Australia sign a AUD$10m partnership to strengthen preparedness and recovery, funding groups like Tonga Red Cross and Live & Learn. Health and environment signals: Fiji Airways rolls out a FlyWell wellness program with red light therapy, while Pacific researchers describe a new ghost fish species camouflaging as algae across reefs including Tonga.

Food & Industry: Australia’s organic meat heavyweight Hewitt has agreed to buy family-run Nolan Meats in south-east Queensland, with operations set to continue while the deal is finalised. Health Access: In Fiji and across the Pacific, cardiothoracic surgeon Sanjeev Khulbey says rising heart disease is pushing more families to get open-heart surgery locally instead of fundraising for overseas treatment. Marine Science: Researchers have named a new ghost pipefish species, Solenostomus snuffleupagus, after it was long mistaken for algae-mimicking relatives across the Great Barrier Reef and parts of the Pacific including Tonga. Pacific Security & Diplomacy: The Pacific Islands Forum is set for late August in Palau, with leaders flagging how Cold War-style competition is reshaping regional priorities. Tonga Policy: Tonga’s PM says there will be no deep-sea mining in Tonga’s own waters for now, pointing to science and international law. Local Justice: A Kolovai man convicted over a rock attack that left a teen with severe facial injuries and lost teeth has been sentenced, with immediate jail spared.

Pacific Health Access: A Fiji-based surgeon says open-heart surgery is finally easing the burden on Pacific families who previously had to fund overseas treatment, with local capacity now drawing patients back home. AI Governance Watch: The UAE Cabinet approved a framework and training push for “agentic AI” across government services—an example of how fast public systems are being reshaped. Regional Security Politics: The Pacific Islands Forum is set to meet in Palau, with leaders flagging how Cold War-style great-power rivalry is reshaping Pacific geopolitics. Tonga Disaster Readiness: Tonga and Australia launched a $10m partnership to strengthen preparedness, response, and recovery, backing government and community groups. Ocean Protection vs Mining: Tonga’s PM says there will be no deep-sea mining in Tonga’s own waters “for now,” with future calls guided by science. Media Freedom Under Pressure: Tonga’s journalists face a “new type of challenge” as threats linked to the drug and gang crisis follow earlier reporting.

Disaster Preparedness Boost: Tonga and Australia have launched a new AUD$10m partnership to strengthen disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, with grants going to groups like Tonga Red Cross and Live & Learn—aimed at building resilience as cyclones, earthquakes, volcanic risk, and sea-level rise keep mounting. Ocean Security & Infrastructure Risk: A new report warns island nations are dangerously exposed to undersea cable attacks and accidents, with many relying on a small number of cables for nationwide connectivity. Deep-Sea Mining Stance: Tonga’s PM says there will be no mining in Tonga’s own waters “for now,” with future decisions tied to science and Pacific-led cooperation. Media Under Pressure: Tonga’s journalists face a “new type of challenge” as threats linked to reporting on drugs and gangs follow earlier public-service complaints. Climate Science Signal: New research on the 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption suggests volcanic chemistry may have helped destroy some methane—an unexpected clue in the fight against warming.

Subsea Cable Shock: A new report warns island nations worldwide—including Tonga—are dangerously dependent on a small set of undersea internet cables, with most failures tied to anchoring and other human activity, raising the risk of full nationwide blackouts. Tonga Media Under Pressure: Tonga’s journalists are facing a “new type of challenge” as threats escalate from drug-and-gang reporting, after a Kele’a Publications reporter was threatened at gunpoint. Ocean Governance Push: Tonga says it will launch its first National Ocean Policy in 2026, aiming for 30% protection and fully sustainable management, with whales and regional cooperation central to the plan. Climate Science Twist: Fresh research on the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai eruption suggests volcanic ash may have helped destroy some methane in the atmosphere—an unexpected clue for future climate solutions. Pacific Security Drums: Security planners in Guam are gaming out what great-power brinkmanship could mean for Micronesia, as regional tensions over Taiwan and trade spill into local risk planning.

Pacific Security Planning: Island leaders and security experts on Guam spent two days stress-testing what Trump–Xi brinkmanship could mean locally, with warnings that mishandling Taiwan could escalate into “clashes and even conflicts,” and that Micronesia is now at the center of great-power competition. Tonga Courts & Accountability: Tonga-language reports say complaints have been lodged against former Chief Judge Lord Dalgety of Sikotilani, but the allegations and whether an investigation has started remain unclear. Media Freedom Under New Pressure: Tonga’s journalists are facing a “new type of challenge” after a Kele’a Publications reporter was threatened at gunpoint over drug and gang reporting, raising fresh calls for protection. Violence & Sentencing: A Kolovai man, Sione Tai So‘afa, was sentenced for a rock attack that left a teen with severe facial injuries and lost teeth. Marine Science Discovery: Scientists identified a new ghost pipefish species that mimics red algae so well it was misfiled for decades. Climate Science: New research on the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai eruption suggests volcanic chemistry helped destroy some methane in the plume—an unexpected lead for faster climate action. Ocean Policy Momentum: Tonga says it will launch its first National Ocean Policy in 2026, aiming for 30% protection and fully sustainable management.

Court & Community Safety: In Nuku’alofa, a Kolovai man, Sione Tai So‘afa, was sentenced for a September 2025 beach assault that left a teenager with severe facial injuries and lost teeth after a rock attack and follow-up punching. Marine Science: Scientists say they’ve finally identified a new ghost pipefish species, “Solenostomus snuffleupagus,” which has been mislabelled as algae for decades across southwest Pacific reefs. Climate Breakthrough: New research on the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai eruption suggests volcanic ash and plume chemistry helped destroy some methane—an unexpected lead for faster methane-focused climate action. Ocean Governance in Tonga: Tonga will launch its first National Ocean Policy in 2026, aiming for 30% protection and fully sustainable management, with whales and regional cooperation central. Media Freedom Under Pressure: Tonga’s journalists face a “new type of challenge” as threats linked to reporting on drugs and gangs follow a gunpoint incident at Kele’a Voice FM.

Volcano-to-climate twist: New research on the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai eruption suggests the plume didn’t just emit methane—it helped destroy it, with satellite-tracked formaldehyde pointing to methane breakdown continuing for days as the cloud drifted. Ocean governance push: Tonga’s PM says there’s no deep-sea mining in Tongan waters for now, while Tonga is set to launch its first National Ocean Policy in 2026 with a 10-year plan for 30% protection and fully sustainable management. Media freedom under pressure: Tonga journalists face a new kind of threat after a reporter was threatened at gunpoint over drug and gang reporting, raising fresh concerns about safety and police protection. Local justice: A Kolovai man has been sentenced over a rock attack on a teenager that left facial injuries and lost teeth. Regional security & resources: A Micronesia security forum debated deep-sea mining and new weapons, while PNG expands embassies across the Pacific.

Volcano-to-methane twist: New research on the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai eruption says the plume didn’t just spew methane—it helped destroy it, with satellites tracking short-lived formaldehyde as proof that methane breakdown kept going for days as the cloud drifted. Reef science, Pacific focus: Scientists also described a new ghost pipefish species, “Solenostomus snuffleupagus,” so well camouflaged as red algae that it was misidentified for decades across southwest Pacific reefs. Tonga media under pressure: A Tongan journalist was threatened at gunpoint after reporting on drugs and a gang member, raising alarms about a “new type of challenge” for press freedom. Ocean governance moves: Tonga says it will launch its first National Ocean Policy in 2026, aiming for 30% protection and 100% sustainable management, while reiterating no deep-sea mining in its own waters for now. Regional security backdrop: A Micronesia security forum discussed deep-sea mining and new weapons systems, warning islands risk being “played off against each other.”

Volcano science with Tonga links: New research on the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption suggests the plume may have helped destroy some of its own methane, with satellites tracking formaldehyde as a short-lived sign that methane was being broken down for days—an unexpected clue for faster climate action. Ocean governance in Tonga: Tonga’s PM says there will be no deep-sea mining in Tongan waters for now, while the country moves toward a 2026 National Ocean Policy aiming for 30% protection and fully sustainable management. Media freedom under pressure: Tonga’s journalists face a new kind of threat after a reporter was gunpoint threatened over drug and gang coverage, raising fresh alarms for safety and press freedom. Pacific security and diplomacy: PNG is expanding embassies across the region (including Tonga) and the Melanesian Ocean Summit is driving tighter ocean cooperation. Climate and health: A Samoa study is measuring how heat and humidity in classrooms affect children’s learning and wellbeing.

Corporate Update: Metals firm TMC says it has about $164m in liquidity as of March 31, 2026, with a Q1 net loss of $20.6m, and it’s moving from pilot to commercial scale by signing a deal with Allseas for the first offshore nodule recovery operation. Climate & Health: A new Samoa study is tracking how heat and humidity in and around classrooms may be affecting children’s learning and wellbeing, with schools often lacking cooling. Pacific Security & Media Freedom: A regional security forum in Guam put deep-sea mining and new weapons systems on the table, while Tonga’s journalists face a new type of threat after a reporter was threatened at gunpoint over drug and gang reporting. Ocean Governance: Tonga says it will launch its first National Ocean Policy in 2026, aiming for 30% protection and 100% sustainable management, as leaders push for united Pacific action on oceans. Volcano Science: New research on the 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption highlights how volcanic chemistry may have partly destroyed methane in the plume—an unexpected climate angle.