FIJI is preparing for the possibility of terrorism despite the Government acknowledging that such an attack is unlikely in the foreseeable future.
Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua said Fiji must prepare while the country remained at peace because an unlikely threat could not be dismissed as an impossible one.
“Cabinet endorsed this Strategy on April 21, 2026, while Fiji remains at peace,” Mr Naivalurua said at the launch of the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy 2026-2030 in Suva last week.
“That is precisely when we should prepare.
“Terrorism is unlikely in the foreseeable future. But unlikely does not mean impossible.”
He said the nature of the threat had changed, with radicalisation occurring online, extremist ideas spreading rapidly, and violence potentially emerging from individual grievances with little warning.
Mr Naivalurua said Fiji’s response would have to extend beyond traditional policing, with terrorism intersecting with illicit drugs, firearms, money laundering, cyber-enabled crime, trafficking and extremist activity.
“Our response must therefore operate across the physical, financial, maritime and digital domains.
“This is why counter-terrorism is not simply a policing responsibility, it is a national responsibility.”
The strategy is built around four pillars — prevention, preparation, response and recovery.
Mr Naivalurua said the strategy would be reviewed annually, with a clear expectation that Fiji should become better prepared each year.
“Our task now is to turn this direction into sustained, coordinated action.”
