Sydney: The United States and Fiji have officially begun talks to enhance military cooperation, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed on Saturday as he wrapped up his Indo-Pacific trip. This marks a significant step in bolstering ties between Washington and the Pacific island nation.
During his 12th visit to the region as Secretary of Defense, Austin announced that negotiations had commenced on a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the U.S. and Fiji. This agreement would allow the U.S. to deploy and redeploy forces in support of Fiji, while facilitating regular training exercises with the Fijian military.
“We’re looking to deepen our cooperation and train with the Fijians on a very routine basis,” Austin said at a press conference alongside Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in Nadi, Fiji’s main city on Viti Levu Island. The discussions signal the U.S.’s growing interest in strengthening its military presence and engagement in the Pacific.
In addition, the U.S. pledged $4.9 million to assist with Fiji’s military modernization and signed a bilateral logistics cooperation agreement, further solidifying defense relations between the two countries. Austin’s visit to Fiji is the first by a U.S. Secretary of Defense to the strategically located archipelago of 322 islands, home to approximately 1 million people.
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The trip also included stops in Australia, the Philippines, and Laos. Prime Minister Rabuka emphasized Fiji’s commitment to closer cooperation with the U.S., adding that the nation looked forward to continuing its work with Washington, even with the new incoming U.S. administration.
Austin assured that the strengthened U.S.-Fiji relationship would persist “far beyond the transition of administrations,” highlighting the enduring nature of the partnership.
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Fiji’s recent agreement to maintain a policing cooperation deal with China adds complexity to the growing influence competition between Beijing and Washington in the Asia-Pacific region.
