On commercial diplomacy, the United States is shifting assistance toward private-sector-led growth, including efforts with Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Taiwan to connect every Pacific Islands Forum country to a trusted undersea cable network. A second Pacific Investment Summit is scheduled to be hosted in early 2027.
Failures involving agentic AI systems, he said, could disrupt essential services, fracture communications, destabilise critical infrastructure and undermine democratic institutions. Entire populations could lose access to clean water, heating and financial services.
“Once completed, the project is expected to significantly reduce power outages and unplanned power failures on both the Nkenda–Ishaka and Nkenda–Kasese 33kV feeders. The upgraded network will also enable the efficient evacuation of electricity generated by hydropower plants within the Rwenzori region,” Okochi said.