After the first-ever visit from a US Defense Secretary, the US and Fiji signed a new defense pact that eases fuel and medical supplies sharing and seeks to modernize Fiji’s military. Both countries have expressed interest in creating more military agreements in the future.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin has kept busy in the last few months before the end of the Biden administration. On November 23, 2024, Austin concluded his twelfth visit to the Indo-Pacific. The nine-day tour included stops in Australia, the Philippines, Laos, and Fiji. Not only was the schedule jam-packed, but the trip was also quite productive. Notably, the US and Fiji signed a new defense pact: The Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement.
What Does the US-Fiji Agreement Entail?
The agreement will facilitate further military cooperation. Under this new agreement, both countries will establish systems to efficiently transfer fuel and medical resources between each other. Additionally, either country may use the other’s maintenance facilities during emergencies. Lastly, the US also intends to give Fiji $4.9 million for small-arms recapitalization, but this is still awaiting approval from the US Congress.
Why Is the Defense Pact Significant?
This agreement marks a key upgrade in the relationship between the US and Fiji. Notably, the agreement was signed during the first-ever official visit by a US Defense Secretary. This visit is a “historic moment in the US and Fiji relationship,” said Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka during a press conference in Suva, Fiji’s capital. Moreover, the agreement comes a few months after the US and Fiji signed their first Open Skies Agreement.
Aside from historical significance, this new agreement will improve the capabilities of Fiji’s armed forces. For example, the US plans to deliver rigid-hull inflatable boats and a new boat ramp, facilitating maritime border patrol.
Why Was the Agreement Passed Now?
The timing of this agreement seems to be in response to increased engagement between Fiji and China. Recently, Prime Minister Rabuka visited Beijing, where he signed bilateral deals on trade, infrastructure, and Mandarin education. Furthermore, Fiji decided to keep a police cooperation deal it has with China despite concerns from the US and allies like Australia.
For decades, the US has focused its engagement efforts in sustaining historical partnerships in the Pacific. In the Micronesia region, countries like Palau and the Marshall Islands have Compacts of Free Association, agreements that give military access to airspace and water to the US in exchange for visa-free travel and work within the US. Moreover, the US has expressed sustained interest in this region through frequent official visits, educational partnerships, and military engagement.
Yet, countries in Melanesia, the region where Fiji is located, have not always received the same amount of attention. As a result, some of these countries, such as the Solomon Islands, have turned to China for aid and cooperation.
The US is now looking to engage more with Melanesian countries. In 2023, the US signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement with the country of Papua New Guinea. The US has also invested in environmental protection efforts in Papua New Guinea in September 2024. Furthermore, the US opened new embassies in Honiara, Solomon Islands, and Port Vila, Vanuatu. With this context in mind, the new agreement seems to be another step toward promoting cooperation between the US and Melanesian countries.
What Will Future Cooperation Look Like?
The US and Fiji announced negations of a bilateral Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). This type of agreement establishes rules for US military personnel in Fiji. If passed, SOFA would enable routine trainings between US and Fijian personnel and easier deployment of soldiers. While this may result in an increased presence of US military personnel in Fiji, both leaders have affirmed that there are no plans for a permanent US military base. Nonetheless, the US is actively working to solidify and strengthen its relationship with key Pacific Island partners like Fiji.
Daniel Salgado-Alvarez is a Fall 2024 Young Professional at the East-West Center. He is a recent graduate from Harvard University, where he studied sociology and East Asian studies.