CANBERRA: During his recent visit to Australia’s capital, Fiji’s Prime Minister on Wednesday, Sitiveni Rabuka, underlined his government’s inclination towards maintaining close ties with traditional allies like Australia, expressing a sense of comfort in familiar partnerships. This statement comes in the context of China’s escalating efforts to strengthen security alliances in the Asia-Pacific region.
In a meeting with Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Rabuka, in his first state visit to Australia since assuming office in December the previous year, conveyed Fiji’s historical and cultural affinities with Australia. Rabuka, a 75-year-old former army colonel and former coup leader, had previously served as Fiji’s prime minister from 1992 to 1999.
Rabuka positioned Fiji alongside Australia in what he framed as a “rivalry” and “one-upmanship” between the United States and China. He highlighted the shared governmental systems and democratic frameworks rooted in the Westminster system, which serve as a basis for Fiji’s comfort in engaging with traditional allies like Australia. Rabuka underscored the similarity in their justice and policing systems, fostering a sense of familiarity and mutual understanding.
However, Rabuka also issued a caution against displaying aggression towards friendly neighbouring countries, emphasizing the importance of maintaining cordial relations with neighbouring nations. During the bilateral meeting, both leaders announced advancements in their bilateral relationship, including the elevation of the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership—a 2019 agreement focused on enhanced cooperation, consultation, and friendship.
The collaborative efforts between Australia and Fiji also extended to security measures, with Australia agreeing to sell 14 Australian-built Bushmaster armoured military vehicles to Fiji. Additionally, agreements on cybersecurity cooperation were reached, demonstrating a growing commitment to bolstering mutual security interests.
Prime Minister Albanese assured Fiji of increased financial support to aid in economic recovery following the detrimental impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Fiji’s tourism industry. Rabuka highlighted the rebound of tourist numbers and tourism income in Fiji to pre-COVID levels, with Australia being the largest source of visitors.
In the wider regional context, Australia and the United States have amplified their engagement with the Pacific region, particularly in response to China’s security pact with the Solomon Islands and its proposals for a region-wide security and economic deal with Pacific Island nations. Rabuka acknowledged feeling honoured when informed by Albanese about the AUKUS agreement—a trilateral pact between Australia, the United States, and Britain aimed at enhancing Australia’s submarine capabilities as a strategic response to China’s increasing influence.
Though Rabuka stopped short of explicitly endorsing the heightened military cooperation, he expressed hope that the AUKUS project would contribute to the concept of a “zone of peace” in the Pacific, a proposal he intends to present to the 18-nation Pacific Islands Forum in the Cook Islands in November. The proposed zone of peace seeks to encourage nations to abstain from actions that jeopardize regional order and stability while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighbouring states.
