The Pacific Islands Forum is facing an uncertain future.
On Thursday from a field of five candidates the former Cook Islands prime minister, Henry Puna, was elected pipping Marshall Islands' diplomat Gerald Zackios by just one vote.
The stakes were raised in the lead up to the appointment by an ultimatum from Micronesian leaders that they would depart the forum if their man was not given the job.
But at what cost the appointment comes remains to be seen with all eyes now on Micronesia.
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National flags in Nauru for the Pacific Islands Forum. Photo: New Zealand Herald/Jason Oxenham