In a historic moment marked for the United States (U.S) and Fiji relations, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sitiveni Rabuka met with the U.S Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III, the first- high ranking official from U.S Department of Defence to visit Fiji.
In a bilateral meeting convened Saturday in Nadi, Prime Minister Rabuka welcomed Secretary Austin’s visit that signifies commitment to advance the bilateral defence cooperation between Fiji and the U.S.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Rabuka expressed his gratitude for U.S continued cooperation with Fiji in important areas of development.
Prime Minister Rabuka reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to further strengthen relations and continuing to work closely with U.S. going forward including with the new incoming Trump Administration.
He acknowledged Fiji – U.S continued cooperation and partnership including the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) signed between Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration Fiji and the United States’ Department of Defence.
In his remarks, Secretary Austin said, “I’m very proud to be the first U.S Secretary of Defece ever to visit Fiji.
“It’s an honour to be here. Our relationship is rooted in common values – and our shared vision for a free and open region. The Indo-Pacific is our priority theater. And strengthening our partnerships with Fiji and other Pacific Island countries is vital to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
The United States and Fiji are strengthening partnerships and facilitating greater engagement with Pacific Island Countries by:
• Announcing initiation of negotiations with Fiji on a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which will advance U.S. efforts to work more closely with the region and build on a growing foundation of important cooperative agreements with Pacific Island Countries.
• Signing an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) with Fiji, which will bolster bilateral logistics cooperation, including by enabling efficient transfer of fuel and medical supplies as well as use of maintenance facilities during emergencies.
• Committing US$4.9 million in new U.S security assistance to support Fiji’s military moderniSation through enhanced Foreign Military Financing, pending congressional approval.
The collaboration further builds on the new partnerships recently established via the signing of Fiji-U.S Air Transport Agreement in August in Tonga, the establishment of USAID Pacific Regional Office in Fiji with the signing of the Bilateral Framework Agreement in October in Suva and the expansion with the Peace Corps in Fiji and the Pacific region.
Secretary Austin’s visit to Australia, the Philippines, Laos, and Fiji last week, builds on the U.S cooperation with like-minded countries to strengthen regional security, through engaging in a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings to modernize U.S alliances and partnerships toward the shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
