In an era of geopolitical change, climate crisis and rapid technological advancement, Fiji must ask itself what kind of Navy it needs for the world it is sailing into?
This was stated by the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, during the Fiji Navy’s 50th Anniversary celebration last month at the Stanley Brown Naval Base in Suva.
Mr Rabuka said the greatest threat to Fiji’s security was not a fleet on the horizon, but the rising sea itself.
“Cyclones are stronger. Coastal communities are vulnerable, our maritime infrastructure is under pressure,” he said.
“Our navy must evolve into a resilient force, able to respond rapidly to disasters at sea; protect maritime infrastructure and economic zones: assist our vulnerable Pacific neighbours through Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and invest in green naval technology, disaster-proof bases and training for climate response missions. Fiji has always believed in collective strength.
“We are not just protecting our own waters , but safeguarding the Blue Pacific on behalf of future generations,” Mr Rabuka said.
“Let us deepen our engagement with the Pacific and partners through co-ordinated maritime enforcement and partnership that are built on trust, not dependency.
“Fiji is actively promoting for an ocean that unites rather than divides, that sustains rather than exploits and that offers hope rather than fear.
“This concept is not new but one that is deeply rooted in the Pacific Way of life. And it speaks to a future where the Pacific Ocean is the bedrock of peace, cooperation, resilience and shared security. Fiji Navy is central to the realisation of this vision.”
He said Fiji’s Navy safeguards its maritime domain not through aggression, but through presence, precision and partnership.
“It is this vigilant peacekeeping at sea that ensures stability for our economy, food security for our people and trust among our neighbours.
“Fiji’s Navy stands side-by-side with regional forces – through exercises, information sharing, and co-ordinated patrols, to create a Pacific maritime shield against shared threats.
“We support the goal of ensuring that our ocean remains a demilitarised space, free of conflict, nuclear weapons, and great-power rivalry.”
He said Fiji envision a navy that not only protect Fiji, but advances Pacific peace diplomacy from the deck of every vessel it launches.
