India and Fiji have taken significant steps to enhance their defence partnership, marking a notable advancement in their bilateral relationship. These developments span high-level ministerial meetings, institutional frameworks, and renewed strategic alignment reflecting growing collaboration across security, maritime, and humanitarian domains.
Top-Level Talks Signal New Momentum
On August 25, 2025, during Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s first official visit in his current capacity, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with PM Rabuka at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Among several areas of cooperation highlighted, the two leaders emphasized defence and maritime security, alongside healthcare, climate action, and cultural connections. Their joint statement confirmed an action plan for enhancing collaboration in maritime security, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism.
Institutional Framework: Joint Working Group Takes Shape
Earlier this year, at Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru (February 2025), India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Fiji’s Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua formalized the India-Fiji Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence Cooperation. This move solidifies the partnership envisioned under the 2017 Memorandum of Understanding, providing a structured mechanism for ongoing engagement
First Joint Working Group Meeting in Suva
Building on that momentum, the inaugural meeting of the JWG was held on July 18, 2025, in Suva, Fiji. Co-chaired by India’s Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) Vishwesh Negi and Fiji’s Acting Permanent Secretary for Defence, Sainitiki Ravuso, the meeting addressed key areas such as humanitarian assistance & disaster response (HADR), peacekeeping, and strategic dialogue. The Indian delegation also toured essential defence installations in Suva, deepening institutional ties
Multidimensional Collaboration: Maritime Safety to Cybersecurity
Highlights of the enhanced defence cooperation include:
- Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA): Both countries committed to bolstering maritime surveillance and protection of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ), essential for safeguarding sea lanes and coastal security.
- Capacity-Building & Training: Expansion of defence training programs, including for UN peacekeeping and disaster-response, to elevate Fiji’s operational readiness.
- Equipment and Technology Sharing: Fiji expressed interest in procuring key technologies such as surveillance drones, radar systems, and naval equipment, aligning with its broader maritime ambitions.
- Humanitarian & Cyber Cooperation: India offered to share expertise in disaster response, cybersecurity, and data protection areas vital to Fiji’s resilience and digital transformation
Strategic Significance: Beyond Bilateral Ties
This deeper defence engagement aligns with India’s broader outreach in the Indo-Pacific, particularly under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) framework. Through these initiatives, India is strengthening its strategic footprint and promoting regional cooperation and stability across the Pacific islands
What It Means
- Institutionalisation: The JWG provides a formal channel for sustained engagement and follow-up on joint initiatives.
- Deepening Trust: The diversifying nature of cooperation spanning training, technology, maritime security, and cyber readiness highlights a strategic trust-building trajectory.
- Regional Security Anchor: For India, Fiji becomes an important partner in the Indo-Pacific, enhancing its maritime posture and diplomatic ties.
- Capacity Boost for Fiji: Defence enhancements and technological support will significantly upgrade Fiji’s capabilities in crisis response, maritime surveillance, and regional peacekeeping.
