Australia and Fiji share a strong and enduring bilateral relationship set out by the Vuvale Union signed on 6 July 2026, building on the previous Vuvale Partnership signed in 2019 and elevated in 2023. It is a broad-ranging and comprehensive partnership underpinned by close people, economic, development and security ties.
On 25 May 2022, in her first week as Foreign Minister, Senator the Hon. Penny Wong travelled to Fiji, demonstrating the importance we place on our relationship with Fiji and on our Pacific engagement. Since then, Minister Wong has visited Fiji again in September 2023, August 2024, May and August 2025, May, July and August 2026. Minister Conroy visited in April/May 2024,June 2025 and May 2026. Prime Minister Rabuka formally visited Australia in October 2023 (as Guest of Government) and July 2025.
Security partnerships
The Ocean of Peace Alliance is a mutual defence treaty, modelled on the ANZUS and Pukpuk treaties, and is Fiji's first and Australia's fourth Alliance. These arrangements will build more integrated capability for Pacific Islands Forum members to respond to the range of security challenges and potential threats our region faces, demonstrating Pacific leadership in providing for our own security needs.
The Alliance will build on our strong history of shared defence and peacekeeping cooperation. Under the existing Fiji Defence Cooperation Program, Australia has:
- gifted Guardian-class patrol boats (under the Pacific Maritime Security Program) to Fiji to support maritime security in the Pacific region;
- supported Fiji to undertake a major upgrade of the RFNS Stanley Brown Wharf, to provide safe and secure berthing for these Guardian-class patrol boats;
- funded the construction and opening of the Maritime Essential Services Centre (MESC), in Suva in October 2025
- the MESC will enhance Fiji's maritime security capabilities, and strengthen cooperation in the areas of maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping, and training.
- supported two deployments in 2025 and 2026 of Republic of Fiji Military Forces troops in the Australian Defence Force to integrate, collaborate and build our combined capability and interoperability; and
- worked together on major security infrastructure projects in Fiji, including the redevelopment of Blackrock Peacekeeping, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Camp.
- Blackrock Camp is a world-class facility enhancing interoperability and Fiji's ability to respond to humanitarian crises in the region.
At the 2026 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau, Pacific leaders agreed on their support for Waqa Moana – a Pacific-led maritime security initiative designed to counter illicit drug trafficking. Australia is supporting its implementation, and over 10 years aims to boost capacity to detect, deter and disrupt crime while preserving the sovereignty and resilience of Pacific Island states. As part of this effort, Australia will provide Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessels to Fiji from 2027, enhancing Fiji's maritime security capability and ability to intercept drug trafficking vessels.
In line with the Boe Declaration on regional security, we are continuing our defence and security cooperation. Co-deployments between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) in our region have demonstrated the value of Pacific partners responding to regional crises.
In addition, an Ocean of Peace Centre was identified in the Pacific Islands Forum Peace and Security Work Plan as an important institution to support PIF Members to implement the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration. Under the Vuvale Union, we will help Fiji to develop the Ocean of Peace Centre so that it can undertake research, advocacy, technical support and monitoring, working closely with PIF Members and the PIF Secretariat to promote the Declaration's implementation.
People-to-people links
Australia and Fiji have extensive people-to-people links. Over 3,000 Australian companies do business in Fiji and close to 69,000 people born in Fiji live in Australia. Fiji is also one of the top destinations for Australians. Australians represent the largest cohort of visitor arrivals to Fiji (see Fiji Bureau of Statistics).
There are regular exchanges between Australia and Fiji, including through the Australia Awards, New Colombo Plan, Australian Volunteers Program, and the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. There are now around 4,700 Fijian PALM scheme workers in Australia, enriching the culture and society of regional and rural communities across the country. Under the Vuvale Union, Australia and Fiji will support stronger cultural and faith-based links, including between our indigenous peoples, as our two nations build a shared future.
Australia is supporting Fiji, through the Pacific Australia Skills program, in developing skills for employment and preparing people for opportunities at home and across the region.
Australia and Fiji share a deep love of sport. Through our PacificAus Sports program, we have created opportunities for Fijian athletes, coaches, officials and administrators to access high performance training and elite competition across rugby union, netball, Australian Rules Football, rugby league, cricket, tennis, basketball and Olympic & Paralympic sports. Australia supports the Fijian Drua men’s team and women’s Fijian a team to compete in the Super Rugby Pacific and Super W competitions. We also invest in grassroots sport in Fiji as a tool to promote gender equality and social inclusion through our Team Up sport for development program.
Under the Vuvale Union, Fiji and Australia agreed to an expanded sports partnership, recognising the important role sport, and particularly rugby, plays in bringing Australians and Fijians together.
Economic relationship
Australia is one of Fiji's largest trade and investment partners and we are assisting Fiji’s economic diversification into agriculture, manufacturing and technology through these initiatives. The Market Development Facility (MDF) began in Fiji in 2011. MDF stimulates business innovation and private sector investment for development outcomes, particularly poverty reduction and women's economic empowerment.
The Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) is implementing activities in Fiji to support Fiji’s private and public infrastructure needs.
Australia’s kava pilot commenced commercial importation of kava in December 2021. The kava importation arrangements under the pilot continues, in recognition of the deep cultural and economic significance of kava for Pacific Island communities both in Australia and across the Pacific region. Since commercial import arrangements commenced in December 2021, Fiji has exported more than 338 tonnes of kava to Australia through a network of over 200 suppliers.
Australia and Fiji’s Memorandum of Understanding on Ports Infrastructure and Services is supporting Fiji’s current and future maritime needs including revitalising Fiji’s shipbuilding and ship repair industry.
Development
Australia is Fiji’s largest bilateral development and humanitarian partner. Through our development programs and in line with Fiji Government priorities, we support Fiji’s health services, economic diversity and resilience, education outcomes and infrastructure priorities.
Australia’s development program plays a critical role supporting health, education and skills, gender equality, disability inclusion and private sector recovery programs, as well as disaster relief in the wake of tropical cyclones, and direct budget support to bolster social protection schemes for the most vulnerable Fijians.
Australia is supporting Fiji’s HIV emergency response under our Vuvale Union through the Australian Support for Pacific HIV Action (ASPHA) initiative, including technical expertise, workforce support, community outreach, and essential health supplies.
International cooperation
Australia and Fiji work together in multilateral forums as fellow members of the UN, World Trade Organization, Commonwealth, and Pacific Islands Forum. Fiji was the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum in 2021-22, and co-hosted Pre-COP 31 with Australia and Tuvalu in 2026. Fiji was elected to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2019-21 term, overlapping with Australia's 2018-20 term. Fiji's Presidency of the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change oversaw successful negotiations on the Rulebook and the establishment of the 'Talanoa Dialogue' ministerial-level review of global action on climate change. Australia provided $6 million to support Fiji's Presidency.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Meeting in Palau from 30 August to 4 September 2025, where the focus was on regional security, climate change action, economic resilience, and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent..