Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says Fiji’s sovereignty remains secure under the newly signed Vuvale Union and Ocean of Peace Alliance with Australia, stressing that the partnership is built on dialogue, regional solidarity and respect for international law.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Suva on Monday, Rabuka was asked how Fiji would ensure the long-term protection of its sovereignty under the alliance.
“We are protected by the articles of the United Nations. We are a member of the United Nations. If anything threatens that sovereignty, we have the Vuvale partnership. We have our own regional solidarity to rely on as well as the world’s understanding of the word sovereignty.
“I believe our sovereignty is secure. Our relationship is based on understanding, on dialogue rather than disputes. We will not take our differences to weapons. We will come to the conference table and work through that way to ensure that our sovereignty is respected,” Rabuka told Journalists in Suva.
Responding to questions about criticism that Australia was advancing its own agenda in response to China’s growing influence in the Pacific, Prime Minister Albanese said the alliance builds on a long history of cooperation between the two countries.
“This alliance is about elevating what is a long history of defence cooperation.
“And indeed, when we sat in our bilateral meeting, not just the Prime Minister but three of his colleagues as well, had all undertaken experience in Victoria or indeed at Duntroon. And so, this is, as well, builds on the work that we’ve done over a long period of time standing side by side in peacekeeping missions.”
“This is about our relationship but elevating it to the highest possible level of an alliance,” said Albanese.
Asked what practical defence and security benefits the agreement would bring for Fiji, Albanese said the treaty strengthens Australia’s commitment to Fiji’s security.
“Firstly, the alliance provisions are very clear, which is that an attack on Fiji from an outside force would trigger Australia’s full support for Fiji and for its sovereignty,” Albanese said.
He said the agreement would also expand defence cooperation.
“When it comes to defence cooperation, what this will do is to further allow for discussions about specifics. We have provided some infrastructure in the past.
“It’s not about troops in each other’s nations or that at all, but it will allow for a clearer area of cooperation and requests to be made over the full suite of challenges that confront national security in 2026.
“That comes not just from traditional ways that it’s seen, but areas like cyber security and other areas as well. And it will mean an upgrade in areas including increased cooperation in training and exercises as well,” said Albanese.
The two leaders were also asked whether other Pacific Island countries could join the alliance in the future.
Rabuka said the agreement demonstrates what Pacific neighbours can achieve together.
“It’s not a matter of wanting. We have just signed the treaty as an example of what Pacific neighbours can do for each other and together as we move forward to ensure that the Pacific remains an ocean of peace, that we are prepared to come to everybody else at and anybody else in the Pacific region assistance when they are threatened.”
“And that is the real nature of this. We can specifically ask for one, as I had tried to develop, and Australia said, yes, we’ll go with you. And I’m sure right now there are other Pacific leaders who are waiting to come in. The more, the stronger, the better,” Rabuka stressed.
Albanese said Australia wants Pacific countries to take responsibility for the region’s own security while distinguishing the new agreement from broader regional arrangements.
“We have said very clearly that when it comes to security issues, the Pacific family need to look after our own security. We’ve made that clear across the board.
“And the Vuvale Agreement is certainly a part of that. But we have said that we want to be as well the security partner of choice within our family. So, that has a range of aspects, including the Pacific Policing Initiative that has been very successful.
“An alliance, though, is something at a very different level. It’s something that was proposed by Prime Minister Rabuka and we were happy to agree because of the history and the relationship that we have with Fiji, which is very, very special.”
“It’s a bilateral alliance. That is a different level from the discussions that normally take place about regional security and those elements as well,” said PM Albanese.
