The Minister for Defence and Veterans Affairs, Hon. Pio Tikoduadua, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for Defence, Mr. Mason Smith, the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Major-General. Ro Jone Kalouniwai, and Mr. Jagganath Sami, Fiji’s High Commissioner to India, engaged in a high-level bilateral meeting with India’s Defence Minister, Hon. Rajnath Singh, at the BRIDGE Defence Minister’s Conclave 2025 in Bengaluru, India.
The meeting reinforced the growing strategic partnership between Fiji and India, particularly in the areas of defence cooperation, military training, and regional security.
During discussions, both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to expanding military collaboration, focusing on capacity-building, maritime security, and intelligence-sharing. India, a key defence partner for Fiji, reiterated its ongoing support for defence training programs for Fijian military personnel at premier Indian institutions.
Recognising India’s role in regional security frameworks, Minister Tikoduadua acknowledged India’s efforts in advancing Indo-Pacific security cooperation and conveyed Fiji’s interest in enhancing its defence capabilities through joint exercises and technology transfers.
The conversation also included India’s defence manufacturing sector, where Fiji explored opportunities for procuring surveillance drones, radar systems, and naval equipment to bolster its maritime security operations.
Minister Singh also reaffirmed India’s dedication to regional stability and humanitarian assistance, proposing increased collaboration with Fiji in disaster response and crisis management initiatives, given India’s extensive experience in providing humanitarian aid during emergencies.
Both ministers agreed on a forward-looking approach to strengthening defence engagements, outlining a roadmap that will prioritise military exchanges, enhanced border security coordination, and the development of a structured bilateral defence framework.
The reinforced Fiji-India defence partnership is expected to play a critical role in promoting security and stability in the Pacific and the wider Indo-Pacific region.