Luis Planas calls for international law and multilateralism to tackle global challenges

Luis Planas emphasised the importance of international law and multilateralism as essential tools for tackling global challenges, during his address at the 55th meeting of leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), held in Palau. Against an increasingly complex international backdrop, Planas argued for the need to preserve a rules-based international order and to strengthen cooperation between countries.

The minister reaffirmed the Government of Spain's commitment to the Pacific nations and its determination to continue strengthening a relationship based on these principles and on support for the priorities set out by the region itself.

Planas also highlighted the role of Pacific nations as "great Pacific oceanic States, custodians of one of the planet's largest maritime expanses, and key players in ocean governance". He particularly emphasised their leadership in protecting marine resources and in the international response to climate change.

As a maritime nation with significant island territories in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, Spain shares many of the realities and challenges faced by Pacific societies. "The ocean does not separate us; it connects us and defines our identity", the minister noted.

Cooperation aligned with Pacific priorities

Amidst growing international competition for resources, Planas underscored Spain's desire to ensure that its cooperation aligns with the priorities defined by the Pacific nations themselves.

In this regard, Spain supports the 2050 Strategy for the Pacific 'Blue Continent', which is fully aligned with Spain's new Asia-Pacific Strategy 2026-2029.

The minister also highlighted the increase in Spanish Official Development Assistance (ODA), which grew by 13% in 2025, reaching $5.1 billion. Spain thus became the second-largest increaser of aid among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries that year.

In the Pacific, this cooperation focuses on areas such as adaptation to climate change and the protection of the oceans. Planas highlighted in particular the Pacific Resilience Facility, a mechanism established by the countries of the region to strengthen their capacity to respond to natural disasters and the effects of climate change - and acknowledged the leadership shown by Pacific nations in maintaining international ambition regarding this challenge.

During the forum, Luis Planas met with representatives from several Pacific states, to whom he conveyed the Government of Spain's commitment to combating climate change and taking measures to mitigate its effects, above all to ensure food security and boost the blue economy.

Non official translation