Australia Deepens Pacific Security Ties With Fiji Defence Alliance
Synopsis
The new treaty commits both countries to mutual defence and reflects Canberra’s efforts to bolster regional partnerships amid growing Chinese influence.
Key Highlights
- Australia and Fiji have concluded the Ocean of Peace Alliance and Vuvale Union treaty.
- Fiji signs its first defence alliance, becoming Australia’s fourth formal treaty ally.
- New defence and security cooperation agreements cement / strengthen co-operation between Australia, the US/Japan/NZ (the Quad), as Australia tries to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific.
Fiji and Australia have signed the Ocean of Peace Alliance and Vuvale Union treaty, Fiji’s first defence alliance structure, a military pact & Australia’s fourth formal treaty alliance after the United States, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. The Australia-Fiji defence alliance comes as Canberra works to widen its Pacific partnerships in response to China's growing regional influence.
The new treaties bring with them obligations of mutual defence, under which the two nations must confer on security threats and help each other should either come under attack from an outside force. The pact furthermore opens the door for further countries in the Pacific region to join when they share the goals of the alliance.
AU$1 billion to enhance bilateral cooperation
In addition to the defence pact, Australia and Fiji signed the Vuvale Union treaty that deepens collaboration in areas including security, economic development and regional resilience.
Both agreements are represented as Australia’s most significant bilateral commitments with partners in the Pacific, and Australia will commit A$1 billion over the coming 10 years.
China continues to be at the heart of regional strategy
This would come a month after Australia signed another security agreement, this time with Vanuatu and is part of Canberra’s wider Pacific strategy to counter China’s growing economic and military influence throughout the region.
Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the agreements were not meant to be a challenge to Fiji’s relationship with China and Makawa insisted it doesn’t change much for Fiji’s relationship with Beijing.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of our country will also meet in the Solomon Islands, where they are likely to discuss a wider pact on strategic cooperation.
Source: Reuters
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