CNMI eyes bigger role in Pacific Islands Forum

The CNMI wants to maintain its observer status in the Pacific Islands Forum and could eventually seek associate membership as the Commonwealth looks to gain a stronger voice in a region increasingly caught in the middle of global power competition.

Clement "CJ" Bermudes Jr., special adviser to the governor for economic issues, said the Commonwealth's participation in the Pacific Islands Forum, held in Koror, Republic of Palau, from Aug. 31 to Sept. 3, gave it another opportunity to bring CNMI concerns before Pacific leaders despite its limited status in the regional organization.

"We're certainly committed to maintaining our observer status and potentially even elevating to associate member status as we continue to participate in forums like the PIF," Bermudes told Marianas Press.

The CNMI currently participates in PIF as an observer, while Guam and American Samoa are associate members.

Bermudes said the Commonwealth nevertheless had a seat at the table during the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders, or PICL, held at the beginning of PIF. The CNMI is a full member of PICL, which is hosted by the East-West Center.

The East-West Center covered Bermudes' trip to Palau as the CNMI's observer.

For Bermudes, the gathering also offered a front-row seat to the geopolitical competition unfolding across the Pacific.

"It's interesting seeing the great power competition that occurs at things like this," he said.

Bermudes said the United States, China, Taiwan, Australia, and New Zealand were among those represented, along with development partners and regional organizations such as the Asian Development Bank, United Nations, and Pacific Community.

He said Micronesia was particularly prominent this year, with the 28th Micronesian Islands Forum held in Pohnpei shortly before PIF in Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia chairing PICL.

"So all eyes were on Micronesia this year," Bermudes said.

He said forums such as PIF bring major powers directly into the region to engage Pacific island countries.

"It really, it forces, you know, larger great powers to come to the region, compete, meet bilaterally with states, and sit on equal footing, I think," Bermudes said.

For the CNMI, that geopolitical competition is not some faraway concern.

Bermudes said the Commonwealth is part of the same Marianas island chain as Guam, where the U.S. has maintained a longstanding military presence, while the military buildup in the broader Marianas continues.

"Our position for the Commonwealth's perspective, you know, we're at the front line, as many say, the spearhead of the Pacific," he said. "And we're where all the competition is happening."

Bermudes said the safety of people in the Marianas remains a concern as military and strategic activity increases across the region.

"You know, we have a military buildup here in the Marianas. You know, there's been a longstanding military positioning in Guam," he said.

"And so obviously on our minds is that, you know, are our people safe? Are we going about this safe? And, you know, are the commitments from the United States, who we rely on, you know, heavily for our security, are those being taken and pushed at forums like the PIF?"

Bermudes said the CNMI wants to continue those conversations despite the limitations that come with being a non-sovereign U.S. territory and an observer at PIF.

He said Joint Task Force-Micronesia and the U.S. Pacific Command were also represented at the gathering, which he viewed as demonstrating U.S. security commitments in the Pacific.

The CNMI's limited status also meant Bermudes was not privy to all discussions among PIF members.

Asked about discussions surrounding weapons testing and non-proliferation, Bermudes said the issue came up on the sidelines, but he could not say what ultimately came out of talks among member countries.

"Like I said, the CNMI is an observer at PIF, so we don't sit in on all of the discussions," he said.

Still, Bermudes said continued participation gives the Commonwealth an avenue to make its concerns heard as geopolitical competition intensifies closer to home.

"If we continue to strengthen forums like this and we continue to participate, we continue to elevate the voice of the Marianas," he said.