On 2 July 2025, Prime Minister Rabuka proposed at the National Press Club in Canberra, for Fiji and Australia to elevate our existing Vuvale Partnership to a treaty-level agreement.

One year on, on 6 July 2026, Prime Ministers Rabuka and Albanese came together in Suva to sign two historic treaties – the Vuvale Union and an Ocean of Peace Alliance.

These agreements will transform Fiji and Australia's bilateral relationship and contribute to our countries' prosperity, security and resilience for decades to come.

They are also the first treaties to implement the Ocean of Peace Declaration, endorsed by Pacific Leaders in 2025, with regionalism at the heart of both agreements.

The Vuvale Union

The Vuvale Union is a treaty-level agreement that sets ambitious goals to integrate our countries' security, economies and people.

• It is backed by new investment of over AUD1 billion over a decade including
• around AUD674 million in grants and AUD350 million in concessional loans.
• It is guided by the principles of durability, sovereignty and regionalism.
• A ministerial-level Vuvale Forum and senior-officials Vuvale Bukmak will guide the progressive deepening of our partnership
  • Bukmak is a Yolngu Matha word meaning 'everyone', which conveys unity between peoples. The Yolngu are First Nations Australians from northern Australia.

What will the Vuvale Union deliver?

The Vuvale Union and Ocean of Peace Alliance – two transformational treaties

Australia's commitment across the three pillars represents a doubling of our existing cooperation and Fiji has also committed substantial resources.

Security

• Provides AUD181 million to strengthen the fight against transnational crime and illicit drugs, uplifting the Fiji Police Force and backing efforts to intercept drugs shipments before they reach Fiji's shores.
• Strengthens Fiji's health system (AUD101 million), including to respond to the HIV crisis, with a grant for a new national hospital, and Australian training for health workers.

Economic

• Finances nation-building infrastructure, including port upgrades, flood alleviation works (AUD145 million in grants and AUD350 million in loans).
• Accelerates Fiji's digital transition, through secure data centres and digital skills (AUD92 million).
• Strengthens economic security through critical infrastructure investment screening, diversification and supply chain resilience (AUD37 million).

People to People

• Will enhance visa conditions, with Fijians soon able to apply for a 4 month stay; business visitors will able to seek 5 year, multi-entry visas.
• Will offer select cohorts of Fijian students access to Australian universities on the same conditions as Australian students, from 2029 (AUD30 million).
• Funds sports development, including Rugby Union, recognising our love of sport unites us (AUD25 million).
• Supports stronger cultural and faith-based links, including between our indigenous peoples (AUD10 million).

Ocean of Peace Alliance

On 6 July 2026, Fiji and Australia came together as two proud sovereign nations to form the Ocean of Peace Alliance ('the Alliance'). It is also known as the Veitacini Treaty.

• It is Fiji's first and Australia's fourth Alliance.
• Fiji and Australia have a proud history standing shoulder to shoulder supporting each other and the region's security, and deep existing defence cooperation.
• This has created a foundation of trust, loyalty and respect, which made entering into an Alliance a natural next step in a more challenging and contested world.
  • Article 2 acknowledges that our Alliance is built on shared values, including our commitment to free and democratic institutions.
• The Alliance creates a mutual defence obligation to come to each other's aid in the event of an armed attack on either country in the Pacific.
• Through the Alliance, we will deepen the interoperability of our people, platforms and systems, to ensure that we have the capability to protect our sovereignty, and deter and resist external threats and armed attacks.
• The Alliance will also strengthen our consultation on security development in the region that threatens the sovereignty, peace or stability of either party.

Supporting regionalism and contributing to our Pacific family

• Both the Ocean of Peace Alliance and the Vuvale Union Treaty seek to contribute to the peace, security and prosperity of our Pacific family.
• The agreements commit us to promote Pacific-led approaches to peace and security, and will enhance our joint capability to respond to key regional security challenges such as drug trafficking, and the impacts of climate change.
• Through these agreements, we will also fund a new 'Ocean of Peace Centre' (AUD25 million) in close cooperation with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat and regional partners to undertake research and advocacy to support PIF members to implement the Ocean of Peace Declaration.