Australia signed a new economic and defense alliance with Fiji on Monday, boosting ties between the two countries as Canberra seeks to curb China’s influence in the region.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed the agreement with his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka while visiting the South Pacific island’s capital Suva.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs said, “The alliance strengthens Australia and Fiji’s commitment to a peaceful, prosperous and secure region.”
“The Pacific is their home. And that’s why this trip matters to Australians. Tackling shared challenges. Creating new opportunities. Together,” Albanese said in a post on X, which included photos from his trip.
What is included in the alliance?
Under the newly signed agreement, Fiji and Australia have agreed to consult each other about any “security-related developments” that could threaten their sovereignty.
The agreement states, “The purpose of this Treaty is to recognize and reaffirm the commitment between the Parties to defend their sovereignty, secure their mutual defense and security interests, and contribute to the stability and security of the Pacific region.”
Fiji joins
Australia already has defense treaties with the United States, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
Fiji, which had grown closer to Beijing under its former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, is the latest to join the fold.
In 2022, China signed a secret security alliance with the Solomon Islands, sparking fears it could one day build a permanent military presence in the region.
Some feared that Fiji might also be vulnerable to China’s influence.
However, Beijing’s grip on the island diminished after Rabuka came to power in 2022.
In 2025, the leader rejected suggestions that the island could one day host a permanent Chinese military presence.
“If they want to come, who will welcome them? Not Fiji. And I think China understands that very well,” he said at the time.
Edited by: Dmytro Lyubenko
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