Members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) gathered for the second year in a row at the White House, where President Joe Biden urged leaders to "recommit to each other". "Because with the past as our proof, we're stronger and the world is safer when we stand together," he said. The US is working to boost its presence in the Pacific Islands,  after publicly conceding it had not focused enough attention on the area while China's influence expanded . But in a blow to those diplomatic efforts, Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare declined to travel on to Washington after visiting New York City last week for the United Nations General Assembly.

https://www.looppng.com/global-news/us-disappointed-solomon-islands-snub-pacific-island-leaders-gather-white-house-122959

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