The highly-secretive nation of Nauru will fling open its doors to the world in 2028 when it hosts the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
Multiple well-placed sources have confirmed the tiny Micronesian one-island state will be confirmed at this week’s summit to take the role.
Best known as Nauru, President David Adeang announced in July his nation would now be known as Naoero, which is how it is known locally.
Earning hosting rights and, subsequently, the PIF chair role for the following year, thrusts the nation into a regional leadership role.
It will also require a shift from its long-held policy of making it as difficult as possible for journalists to visit.
A decade ago, Nauru hiked its fees for media visas from $200 to $8000, and regularly refuses entry to reporters.
Nauru last hosted the Pacific Islands Forum in 2018. (Ben McKay/AAP PHOTOS)
This change happened alongside the re-opening of an Australian immigration detention centre, which has been worth billions to the economically-challenged nation.
While sending would-be refugees to offshore detention in Nauru and elsewhere has become standard practice in Australia and elsewhere, it has been severely criticised by many advocacy groups.
The Human Rights Law Centre and others have described detention in Nauru as “unconscionably cruel and brutal”, producing multiple suicides and leaving families separated and stateless.
Phosphate mining made Nauru one of the world’s richest nations per capita in the 1970s and 80s but the reserves and the profits are now all but gone.
Unlike other countries in the Pacific, its sea territory is tiny as it is just one island, meaning fishing revenues are limited.
It is the third-smallest state in the world, ahead of just the Vatican and Monaco.
Nauru is home to around 12,000 people. (Ben McKay/AAP PHOTOS)
Nauru’s national sport is Australian rules football, with Mr Adeang a Geelong Cats supporter.
On Wednesday, Anthony Albanese met with Mr Adeang on the sidelines of this year’s summit in Palau.
The two countries ratified a treaty last year which upgraded their security relationship.
Nauru is one of Australia’s most important Pacific partners. (Dominic Giannini/AAP PHOTOS)
After this year’s summit in Palau, New Zealand will be host in 2027: a responsibility and honour shared among countries on a rotational basis between Micronesia, Polynesia and Melanesia.
PIF members have already endorsed Marshall Islands to host in 2029 – in line with its 50th year of independence – and French Polynesia in 2031.
Nauru’s hosting rights are set to be confirmed in this year’s Pacific Islands Forum communique, expected to be issued on Friday, following the leaders’ retreat on Thursday.
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