Members of the media, Ni Sa Bula Vinaka !!
2.0 Today represents a defining moment in the Fiji–Australia relationship. Together, Prime Minister Albanese and I have just signed the Vuvale Union and the Ocean of Peace Alliance – also known as the Veitacini Mutual Defence Treaty. These landmark agreements mark a significant elevation of our bilateral relationship into a new era of strategic partnership.
3.0 These instruments formalise a comprehensive and enduring framework anchored on three pillars: partnership, integration and regionalism. These principles express our deeper security cooperation, enhanced economic integration and resilience, and strengthened people-to-people connections.
4.0 In advancing this partnership, we acknowledge with appreciation Australia’s commitment to date of over FJD 280 million in new investments since the renewal of the Vuvale Partnership in October 2023. This reflects the depth of our cooperation and its expanding footprint across key sectors of national development.
5.0 We also recognise Australia’s expanded development assistance to the Pacific, now totalling AUD 2.2 billion, including a further increase of AUD 63 million. This is a clear affirmation of Australia’s sustained commitment to the stability, resilience, and prosperity of the Blue Pacific region at a time of growing global uncertainty.
6.0 These treaties reflect our shared understanding of the evolving and interconnected challenges facing our region. These include the increasing sophistication of transnational organised crime networks, illicit drug trafficking, cyber-enabled threats, and emerging public health challenges, including the rise of non-communicable diseases and HIV in parts of our region.
7.0 Importantly, they establish practical and forward-looking mechanisms for cooperation to strengthen prevention, enforcement, intelligence sharing, and regional resilience.
8.0 Equally, this new framework recognises the inextricable link between economic security and national security. It provides renewed emphasis on cooperation in areas critical to Fiji’s long-term development especially in building the economic structure. It includes health, education, critical infrastructure, circular migration, transport and logistics systems, energy transition, digital transformation, cybersecurity and law enforcement.
9.0 These are not only development priorities—they are foundational to the resilience and sovereignty of our economies in an increasingly complex global environment.
10.0 These agreements are firmly grounded in the principles of mutual respect, sovereignty, and vuvale. They reaffirm Fiji and Australia as trusted partners working together not only for our bilateral benefits, but as contributors to a more stable, peaceful, and resilient Blue Pacific Continent.
11.0 In this regard, I commend Prime Minister Albanese for Australia’s continued support for the Leaders’ Appeal for Global Peace. The Pacific must continue to assert its role as a principled voice for dialogue, diplomacy, and respect for international law in an increasingly fragmented global order.
12.0 Today’s outcomes also give practical expression to our shared commitment to a rules-based international order, and advance the Pacific-led vision of an Ocean of Peace. This is a vision that places the Pacific at the front and centre of efforts to shaping norms of cooperation, peace, and collective security.
13.0 Climate change remains the defining challenge of our time. For Fiji and the wider Pacific, it is not a future risk but a lived and daily reality.
14.0 I therefore express sincere appreciation to Prime Minister Albanese and the Government of Australia for your leadership in ensuring strong Pacific participation in the COP31 process, and for your support in the joint hosting of the Pre-COP meeting in Nadi and Tuvalu this October. These are important steps toward strengthening global ambition and ensuring climate justice for vulnerable states.
15.0 Prime Minister Albanese, I thank you for your leadership, your partnership, and your commitment to advancing these historic agreements. Fiji remains fully committed to working with Australia to implement the Vuvale Union and the Ocean of Peace Alliance in a manner that delivers real, measurable outcomes for our peoples.
16.0 Together, we are not only strengthening bilateral ties—we are helping to shape a more peaceful, resilient, and cooperative future for our region and beyond.
Vina’a va’alevu.
17.0 Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to invite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to address you.
[ENDS]