Largely considered an integral and dynamic hub of commerce, trade, and culture, the Indo-Pacific region is one filled with untapped opportunities and emerging threats. And it is this notion that led to the Fiji Dialogue, a first forum focussed on the Indo-Pacific region hosted in Fiji by the Australia India Institute and the University of the South Pacific (USP) last week. During the opening session, delegates from island states in both the Pacific and Indian Oceans gathered in Suva to discuss ways in which threats such as climate change, disinformation, and geopolitics could be countered.
Strategic players
USP vice-chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia described the meeting as a crucial dialogue aimed at fostering cooperation between Australia and India and enhancing the resilience and security of island nations. He said the Pacific Island States faced numerous challenges, including climate change, geopolitical competition and threats to both maritime and human security. “The historical significance of both India and Australia in our region cannot be overstated; with India’s largest diaspora in the Pacific in Fiji with a history of over 150 years and a more recent focus on the Pacific Ocean through initiatives such as the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation,” he said. “Australia has had a long-standing strategic interest and has been a key player, as witnessed by being a founding member of the Pacific Islands Forum.” Prof Ahluwalia said it was vital to collaboratively tackle the multi-faceted challenges faced by the region. “This is timely given that the United States re-engagement in the region appears to be in serious jeopardy given the remarkable executive orders that President (Donald) Trump has signed since his accession to power.” He said the aim of the dialogue was not merely to exchange ideas but to engage directly with the voices of Indo-Pacific Island States and understand their perspectives and needs. “The Fiji Dialogue exemplifies our dedication to providing a platform for innovative thinking and collaboration, where academia meets policy and practitioners.”
Need for shared collaboration
Australia India Institute CEO Lisa Singh says their focus is on how Australia and India can help build a more resilient and peaceful, prosperous Indo-Pacific region. She said the first iteration of the dialogue began in 2023 in Kolkata, India, where experts and government officials from India and Australia gathered to discuss climate change, resource management and disinformation. However, she said there were no island voices at the table, which they wanted to change this time around. “It was really my ambition to take this next iteration of this dialogue to the region, to one particular island to be an anchor for other islands to come, and for Australia and India to hear from them on how we can enhance the cooperation of our nations to resolve some of these challenges. “So when I thought about where to host it, in terms of Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, the choice was easy for me. Fiji really is a strong anchor in the South Pacific, but it’s also home to lots of multilateral organisations.” She said one of the areas of focus was regional governance. “We will talk specifically about that. But really, what we want to do is see how the issues that we all face. They are interconnected, but how can we make the Pacific and the Indian Oceans more resilient to the challenges now? “One new challenge that has now been brought up is the freeze on development funding from the United States. That was not something I could have predicted when I started this process. “So we need to respond to these unique security challenges that are faced by Pacific island states, be it, resilience to climate change, be it the rise of disinformation through digital technology, be it regional governance issues, or be it resource management like undersea cables or port infrastructure.”
The rise of geopolitics
Ms Singh agreed that even as geopolitics impacted the region, shared interests and values must not be compromised. “I think it is no secret that we are living in a contested region,” she said. “You cannot avoid discussing human security elements without discussing more geopolitical elements to that. It’s definitely a convergence of the economic and the geopolitics today. “But that said, we shouldn’t sort of lose sight of the shared interests and the values that really bind us to want to find solutions to these problems. I think that’s the strength of Australia and India, is that we actually do share those same democratic values.” She maintained that both countries were against any sort of breach of sovereignty exploitation or economic coercion. “Pacific island nations are facing all sorts of challenges, and they need to be able to respond to those challenges. The US freeze on development is real. And I’ve been talking to some individuals and organisations since I’ve been here, and they are very concerned about that. “So whilst that is a challenge, it may also be an opportunity for Australia and India to have more of a role and a conversation with Pacific island nations and Indian Ocean island nations. “We’ve played a very, very strong role in the Pacific. We are also recognising the important contested nature of the Indian Ocean.”
Changing nature of security threats
Ms Singh acknowledged the grip the drug trade has on Fiji and neighbouring Pacific Island countries. She said as this was a transnational crime, Australia, through the Australian Federal Police, had a lot of engagement and a lot to contribute. However, she said this was something “we need to bolster”. “I know there’s already a lot of activity going on in this space between our nations,” she said. “I think it’s another example, though, of the changing nature of threats that the Pacific faces. “We need to be vigilant when we talk about transnational crime, to recognise that it’s very much interlinked between organised crime of drugs, of human trafficking, of illegal fishing.” Similar statements were echoed by Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua. “We live in an age of rapid progress, humanity now has the technical ability to solve every single one of its problems,” he said. “War, hunger, disease, and poverty, these are not challenges we lack the knowledge or resources to overcome. And yet, they persist. “We have shrunk the world with technology, innovation, and trade. We can communicate across vast oceans in an instant. We can map genomes, harness renewable energy, and access more information at our fingertips than entire generations before us. “And yet, even as the world has become more connected, our ability to act collectively has weakened.” Mr Tikoduadua also recognised climate change as a key security threat. He said Fiji was on the frontlines of climate change as rising sea levels and extreme weather events threatened not only the environment but also security infrastructure and economic stability. “The threats we face today do not respect borders, and neither should our solutions. Security in the Indo-Pacific cannot be built in silos. It requires deep cooperation, trust, and a commitment to shared goals. “Maritime security must be a collective effort, with better information-sharing frameworks, more joint patrols, and a rules-based order that protects the sovereignty of smaller states. “Climate resilience must be mainstreamed into security policy, ensuring that defence and disaster response capabilities are strengthened for the challenges ahead.” Mr Tikoduadua said the fight against disinformation must be waged together with investments in media literacy, digital security, and transparency in governance. Both Australian High Commissioner Ewen McDonald and Indian High Commissioner Suneet Mehta also expressed similar views and commitments to their individual country’s role in ensuring a safer and prosperous Indo-Pacific region in years to come.
