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| today =
| conventional_long_name = Melanesian Spearhead Group
| native_name = Groupe
}}
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In July 2010, Fiji expelled Australia's acting high commissioner accusing the latter of causing the postponement of a so-called ''Engaging Fiji'' meeting.<ref>{{cite news|work=BBC|title=Fiji's expulsion of Australia envoy "of grave concern"|date=13 July 2010|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10609711|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=19 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819095223/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10609711|url-status=live}}</ref> Australia responded that it had to do with the lack of democracy in the country. An alternate meeting was held instead despite pressure from Australia and New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/fiji-expects-strong-turnout-at-talkfest-20100721-10kh6.html|title=Fiji expects strong turnout at talkfest|date=21 July 2010|access-date=21 July 2010|archive-date=24 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724063640/http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/fiji-expects-strong-turnout-at-talkfest-20100721-10kh6.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was attended by [[Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea|Prime Minister]] [[Michael Somare]] of [[Papua New Guinea]], [[Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands|Prime Minister]] [[Derek Sikua]] of the [[Solomon Islands]], [[President of Kiribati|President]] [[Anote Tong]] of [[Kiribati]], [[Prime Minister of Tuvalu|Prime Minister]] [[Apisai Ielemia]] of [[Tuvalu]], and [[Prime Minister of Fiji|Prime Minister]] [[Frank Bainimarama]] of [[Fiji]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/fiji-claims-egg-on-aussie-faces-as-dictator-pulls-off-pr-coup-with-summit/story-fn59niix-1225895326255| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100903153558/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/fiji-claims-egg-on-aussie-faces-as-dictator-pulls-off-pr-coup-with-summit/story-fn59niix-1225895326255| archive-date = 2010-09-03| title = Fiji claims egg on Aussie faces as dictator pulls off PR coup with summit {{!}} The Australian}}</ref>
Melanesian Spearhead Group is also involved in the [[Papua conflict|issue of Papua]], which involves the [[Indonesia|Indonesian]]
Indonesia, however, also applied for MSG membership in 2010, arguing that Indonesia is home to 11 million Melanesians mainly residing in 5 provinces in Eastern Indonesia; [[Papua (province)|Papua]], [[West Papua (province)|West Papua]], [[Maluku (province)|Maluku]], [[North Maluku]] and [[East Nusa Tenggara]].<ref name="Kemlu">{{cite journal |title=Indonesia Acquires Associate Member Status In Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) |date=26 June 2015 |journal=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of
In May 2013, [[Buchtar Tabuni]], the leader of the [[National Committee for West Papua]] (KNPB) supported the notion that if [[West Papua (region)|West Papua]] was granted [[independence]], he would support them joining the MSG.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.papua.us/2013/06/masyarakat-papua-temui-pemerintah-png.html |title=Masyarakat Papua Temui Pemerintah PNG di Sekretariat Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) |newspaper=Papua Untuk Semua |date=3 June 2013 |language=id |access-date=11 June 2013 |archive-date=17 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617162116/http://www.papua.us/2013/06/masyarakat-papua-temui-pemerintah-png.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The WPNCL submitted an unsuccessful application to the MSG in October 2013.<ref name="Andrews">{{cite journal |title=West Papua: Melanesian Spearhead Group has a tough decision to make |author=Sally Andrews |date=3 April 2015 |journal=Lowly Interpreter |url=http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2015/04/03/west-papua-Melanesian-Spearhead-Group-tough-decision.aspx |access-date=19 July 2015 |archive-date=5 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005203743/http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2015/04/03/west-papua-Melanesian-Spearhead-Group-tough-decision.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> The MSG advised that West Papua independence organizations must first unite for any future applications to be considered.<ref name="Vupost">{{cite news|last1=Ligo|first1=Godwin|title=West Papuans unite under new umbrella group|url=http://dailypost.vu/news/local_news/west-papuans-unite-under-new-umbrella-group/article_ff875941-551a-5730-a394-052caccb6ed3.html|access-date=2 October 2017|work=Vanuatu Daily Post|date=10 December 2014|archive-date=4 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804035223/http://dailypost.vu/news/local_news/west-papuans-unite-under-new-umbrella-group/article_ff875941-551a-5730-a394-052caccb6ed3.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
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Despite being denied of full membership, ULMWP secretary-general Octavianus Mote regarded the observer status positively, saying the diplomatic recognition would help them in their cause. "We might not be a full member of the MSG, but a door has opened to us. We will sit across a table from Indonesia as equal," he said.<ref name="ABC2">{{cite news |title=West Papuans given Melanesia bloc access, but not full membership |author=Liam Fox |date=27 June 2015 |work=ABC |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-27/west-papuans-given-melanesia-bloc-access/6577722 |access-date=20 July 2015 |archive-date=3 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803141438/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-27/west-papuans-given-melanesia-bloc-access/6577722 |url-status=live }}</ref>
However, Indonesia's membership of the MSG has giving them a greater influence in Melanesian politics than the ULMWP. In MSG, Indonesia's official representation will be the governors of Indonesia's five Melanesian provinces. Fijian prime minister Frank Bainimarama, who supported Indonesian membership, argued that his vote was guided by a number of main principles in approaching the West Papuan issue. "Indonesian sovereignty over West Papua cannot be questioned, and the province is an integral part of Indonesia, so when we deal with West Papua and its people, MSG has no choice but to deal with Indonesia, in a positive and constructive manner," he said.<ref name="ABC2"/> Following the decision of elevating Indonesia to associate member, the government of Indonesia, for the first time, hosted the Melanesian Cultural Festival 2015 in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara from 26 to 30 October 2015, which is aimed at improving cooperation among Melanesian countries. The festival was participated by all members of MSG except Vanuatu, and also Timor Leste.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/101211/melanesian-festival-celebrates-cultural-diversity|title=Melanesian Festival Celebrates Cultural Diversity|date=29 October 2015 |access-date=24 December 2015|archive-date=25 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225082805/http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/101211/melanesian-festival-celebrates-cultural-diversity|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Membership ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Overview of Melanesian Spearhead Group members
|-
!scope="col"| Country
!scope="col"| Head of Government
!scope="col"| Status governing
|-
!scope="row"| {{flag|East Timor}}
| President [[José Ramos-Horta|Jose Ramos Horta]]|| observer<ref name="Timorrnz" />
|-
!scope="row"| {{flag|Fiji}}
| {{flag|Fiji}} || Prime Minister [[Frank Bainimarama|Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama]] || sovereign state▼
| Prime Minister [[Sitiveni Rabuka]]|| sovereign state
|-
!scope="row"| {{flag|Indonesia}}<ref name="Kemlu"/>
|-
!scope="row"| {{flag|New Caledonia}}
| FLNKS Head Representative [[Victor Tutugoro]] {{nowrap|{{small|[[File:Pro-Independence Flag of New Caledonia.svg|25px]] [[Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front]] |-
!scope="row"| {{flag|Papua New Guinea}}
| Prime Minister [[James Marape]] || sovereign state |-
!scope="row"| {{flag|Solomon Islands}}
| Prime Minister [[ |-
!scope="row"| {{flag|Vanuatu}}
| Prime Minister [[Charlot Salwai]]|| sovereign state
|-
!scope="row"| {{nowrap|{{small|[[File:Coat of arms of Republic of West Papua.svg|25px]]}}}} West Papua
| ULMWP General Secretary [[ |}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"▼
|+Population and demography of members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group
▲{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!scope="colgroup" colspan="2" align=center| Country
!scope="colgroup" colspan="2" align=center| Population
!scope="col"| Status governing
|-
| colspan="2" align=right| 1,340,513 || observer |-
| colspan="2" align=right| 926,276 || sovereign state |-
| {{Flag|East Nusa Tenggara}} || 5,325,566 ||rowspan="9"| 13,895,201 || rowspan="9"| provinces of associate member
|-
| {{Flag|Maluku}} || align=right| 1,848,923
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| {{Flag|North Maluku}} ||align=right| 1,282,937
|-
| {{Flag|
|-
| {{Flag|West Papua}} || align=right|
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
!scope="row"| {{flag|New Caledonia}}
| [[Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front]] || colspan="2" align=right| 271,407 || political party
|-
!scope="row" colspan="2" align=left| {{flag|Papua New Guinea}}
| colspan="2" align=right| 8,935,000 || sovereign state
|-
!scope="row" colspan="2" align=left| {{flag|Solomon Islands}}
| colspan="2" align=right| 652,857|| sovereign state
|-
!scope="row" colspan="2" align=left| {{flag|Vanuatu}}
| colspan="2" align=right| 307,815|| sovereign state
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"▼
|+Economic overview of members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group
▲{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!scope="colgroup" colspan="2" align=center| Country
!scope="colgroup" colspan="2" align=center| GDP 2022 <br><small>(in billion [[US Dollar|$]])</small>
!scope="colgroup" colspan="2" align=center| GDP PPP 2022 <br><small>(in billion [[US Dollar|$]])</small>
!scope="col"| Status governing
|-
| colspan="2" align=right| 2.455 || colspan="2" align=right| 5.347 || observer |-
| colspan="2" align=right| 4.859 || colspan="2" align=right| 12.685 || sovereign state |-
!scope="row" rowspan="9"| {{Flag|Indonesia}}
| {{Flag|East Nusa Tenggara
|-
| {{Flag|Maluku}} || align=right|3.616 || align=right|11.283
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| {{Flag|North Maluku}} || align=right|4.775 || align=right|14.900
|-
| {{Flag|Southwest Papua}} ||
|-
| {{Flag|West Papua}} || align=right|6.148 || align=right|19.195
|-
|-
| {{Flag|Central Papua}} || rowspan="3" align="right" |
|-
| {{Flag|Highland Papua}}
|-
| {{Flag|South Papua}}
|-
!scope="row"| {{flag|New Caledonia}}
| [[Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front]] || colspan="2" align=right| 10.071 || colspan="2" align=right| 11.110 || political party
|-
| colspan="2" align=right| 31.362 || colspan="2" align=right| 39.083 || sovereign state |-
| colspan="2" align=right| 1.601 || colspan="2" align=right| 1.671 || sovereign state |-
| colspan="2" align=right| 0.984 || colspan="2" align=right| 0.922 || sovereign state |}
==Meetings==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+MSG Formal Summits
|-
!scope="col"|{{Abbr|No|Number}}
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Location
!scope="col"|Host
!scope="col"|Host leader
|-
!scope="row"| 18th
▲| March 2011 || [[Suva]] || {{flag|Fiji}} ||
|-
!scope="row"| 19th
|-
!scope="row"| 20th
▲| 19th || 13–21 June 2013 || [[Nouméa]] || [[File:Pro-Independence Flag of New Caledonia.svg|25px]] [[Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front|FLNKS]] || [[Victor Tutugoro]]
|-
!scope="row"| 21st
▲| 20th || 18–26 June 2015 || [[Honiara]] || {{flag|Solomon Islands}} || [[Manasseh Sogavare]]
|-
!scope="row"| 22nd
▲| 21st || 10–15 February 2018 || [[Port Moresby]] || {{flag|Papua New Guinea}} || [[Peter O'Neill]]
| 19–24 August 2023 || [[Port Vila]] || {{flag|Vanuatu}} || [[Ishmael Kalsakau]]
|}
|