ILLEGAL, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), transnational crime, and great-power competition all threaten the stability of Pacific Island nations.
Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua raised the point at the Fiji Dialogue meeting at USP in Suva last week.
“Even as the world has become more connected, our ability to act collectively has weakened,” he said.
“The Indo-Pacific stands at a crossroads. Our region is defined by both incredible potential and escalating threats. Geopolitical tensions, climate disasters, maritime insecurity and the rise of disinformation pose existential risks to our future.”
Mr Tikoduadua said in this age of rapid progress, humanity had the technical ability to solve every single one of its problems, including war, hunger, disease and poverty. However, these challenges persisted.
He said for Fiji, security could not be relegated to being a theoretical discussion for it was a lived reality.
“It is about ensuring that our people are safe, that our resources are protected, and that our sovereignty is preserved.
“This is why Fiji undertook its National Security and Defence Review (NSDR), a comprehensive re-evaluation of our security landscape in response to the evolving threats of this era.
“The review is not just a document. It is a blueprint for action. It recognises that Fiji’s security is interconnected with the broader Indo-Pacific region and highlights three critical areas where cooperation with partners like Australia and India is essential.”
Mr Tikoduadua said those areas were maritime security and sovereignty, climate security and disaster resilience and information warfare and cyber resilience.
He said Fiji was committed to enhancing maritime domain awareness, increasing cooperation with regional allies and strengthening enforcement capabilities.
