PRIME Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has called for a bold, independent shift in Fiji’s foreign policy, saying the country must make strategic decisions that serve its own national interest — beyond the comfort of traditional alliances.
With global tensions rising and regional security taking centre stage, Mr Rabuka said it was time for Fiji to “come of age”.
“Traditional alliances were great, but every country must ‘come of age,’ grab their ‘key’ and move on with their lives without parental support,” he said.
“Fiji must make that decision now.”
In his latest A Conversation with the PM column, Mr Rabuka warned that recent US tariff hikes had altered the landscape for smaller allies.
“Fiji and other ‘traditional allies’ of the USA will have to do a lot of ‘strategic gymnastics’ to stay on the bars, maintain their balances and continue to ‘score points’ for themselves,” he said.
The Prime Minister revealed that the US tariffs had already prompted Fiji Water to explore alternative markets, a move he welcomed.
“The tariff announcement has now forced them to examine other destinations which will open up those new destinations to the ‘Fiji Brand’!
“Every challenge can be an opportunity!”
Despite the shift in tone, Mr Rabuka reaffirmed Fiji’s enduring diplomatic principle: “We will continue to be guided by our friends to all and enemy to none policy in foreign affairs.”
