Press conference - Suva, Fiji

SITIVENI RABUKA, PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI: Well, we've had a great morning, Prime Minister Albanese and I, and it has been my honour to warmly welcome again to Fiji my colleague and friend Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Prime Minister of Australia, welcome back to the Pacific. I believe you are now beginning to feel that it is really your Pacific home. Today represents a very defining moment in our relationship - Fiji-Australia relationship. Together as some of you witnessed, Prime Minister Albanese and I have just signed, with his Excellency the President of Fiji as witnessing dignitary, he signed our treaty, the Vuvale Treaty and the Ocean of Peace Alliance, the Veitacini mutual security, brotherly or sisterly mutual security framework. These landmark agreements mark a very significant elevation of our bilateral relationship into a new era of strategic partnership. These instruments formalise a comprehensive and enduring framework anchored on three central pillars - deeper security cooperation, enhanced economic integration and resilience, and strengthened people to people connection. In advancing this particular partnership we acknowledge with very deep appreciation Australia's commitment of over Fiji dollars $280 million in new investments since the renewal of the Vuvale Partnership in October of 2023. This reflects the tangible depth of our cooperation and its expanding footprint across key sectors of national development. We also recognise Australia's expanded development assistance to the Pacific now totalling Australian dollars $2.2 billion, including a further increase of Australian dollars, $63 million. This is a clear affirmation of Australia's sustained commitment to the stability, resilience and prosperity of the Blue Pacific region at a time of global uncertainty. These treaties reflect our shared understanding of the evolving and interconnected challenges that are facing our region. These include the increasing sophistication of transnational organised crime networks, illegal drug trafficking, cyber enabled threats, and emerging public health challenges including the rise of non-communicable disease and HIV in parts of our region. Importantly, they established practical and forward looking mechanisms for cooperation to strengthen prevention, enforcement, intelligence sharing and regional resilience. Equally, this new framework recognises the inextricable, that's an English word, link between economic security, or Australian word, and national security. It provides renewed emphasis on cooperation in areas critical to Fiji's long term development, including circular labour mobility, transport and logistics systems, energy transition, digital transformation, cyber security and the protection of very important, even critical, infrastructure. These are not only development priorities, they are foundational in the resilience and sovereignty of our economies in an increasingly competitive global environment. These agreements, ladies and gentlemen of the media, are firmly grounded in the principles of mutual respect, sovereignty and equality of partnership. They reaffirm Fiji and Australia as trusted partners working together not only for bilateral benefits, but as contributors to a more stable, peaceful and resilient Blue Pacific continent. In this regard I commend Prime Minister Albanese for Australia's continued support and leadership and the leaders appeal for global peace. I thank him very much being one of the first to come up and support Fiji's call and the Pacific call for an understanding of Pacific Ocean of peace and continuing that and spreading it on. Calling other leaders to appeal for global peace. The Pacific must continue to assert its role as a principled voice for dialogue, diplomacy and respect for international law in an increasingly fragmented global order. But we're hopeful, we're still hopeful that we'll come together. Today's outcomes also give practical expression to our shared commitment to a rules based international order and advance the Pacific led vision of an ocean of peace. This is a vision that places the Pacific not at the periphery of global affairs, but at the centre of shaping norms of cooperation, peace and collective security. The Fiji media don't normally get this long statement from me, but bear with me. Climate change remains a defining challenge for our time. For Fiji and the wider Pacific, it's not a futuristic but a lived and daily reality. I therefore express sincere appreciation to Prime Minister Albanese and the people of Australia and the Government of Australia for your leadership, particularly as Prime Minister, in ensuring strong Pacific participation in the COP31 process and for your support in the joint hosting of the pre-COP meeting in Nadi and Tuvalu in October of this year. These are very important steps towards strengthening global ambition and ensuring climate justice for vulnerable states, particularly those island states of the Pacific. Prime Minister Albanese, I thank you for your leadership, your partnership and your commitment to advancing these historic agreements. Fiji remains fully committed to working with Australia to implement the Vuvale Union Treaty and the Ocean of Peace Alliance in a manner that delivers real measurable outcomes for all our peoples. Together, we are not only strengthening bilateral ties, we are helping to shape a more peaceful, resilient and cooperative future for our region and beyond. Ladies and gentlemen of the press corps, of the media. I'm pleased to invite Prime Minister Albanese to address you and don't ask me any questions after.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Ni sa bula vinaka.

PRIME MINISTER RABUKA: Bula vinaka. G'day.

PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: And thank you, Prime Minister Rabuka for your friendship, for the warmth of your hospitality and welcome here in Fiji. And the significance of the ceremony this morning was indeed an extraordinary honour for myself and for the Australian delegation on what was the beginning of a very significant day in our relationship and a significant day for relations in the Pacific. Today, Australia and Fiji have come together as two proud sovereign nations to conclude not one, but two treaties - the Vuvale Union and the Ocean of Peace Alliance. Combined, these treaties represent one of the most significant endeavours Australia has ever undertaken in our history with any country. They reflect our proud history of standing shoulder to shoulder to support each other and our region. We can achieve this level of ambition because we are Vuvale - family - with a relationship grounded in loyalty, in understanding and mutual respect. And in a more uncertain world, we know that we're stronger when we stand together. The Pacific Islands Forum called on members to act on your vision of the Ocean of Peace declaration, a declaration that you spearheaded and then saw through to fruition at the Pacific Island Forum meeting last year. As regional leaders, we take seriously our responsibility to strengthen sovereignty, peace and stability in our region and have answered that call. Australia was honoured when Prime Minister Rabuka proposed the Ocean of Peace Alliance. This is Fiji's first alliance and Australia's fourth. Following on from in 1951, the alliance with the United States and New Zealand and then the alliance agreement reached with Papua New Guinea just last year that will come into force in two days time. The significance of this agreement cannot be underestimated for what it means for our two great nations and we are both stronger because of it. The Ocean of Peace Alliance introduces a mutual defence obligation and there's no higher obligation than to come to each other's aid at a time of need. The Fiji-Australia Vuvale Union is a comprehensive treaty that sets out ambitious commitments across the breadth of our bilateral relationship. A relationship between our people first and foremost, but a relationship involving education, health, infrastructure and the full suite of security relations as well. It's backed by investment of over $1 billion over a decade and is designed to support the interests of our two countries as well as our Pacific family. It commits us to combat transnational crime, to work together on health issues like HIV, to address the impact of climate change and to build the infrastructure like ports that will further connect our region. The Fijian people generously bestowed the word Vuvale on our union. And I also want to acknowledge the Yolngu people who have generously offered us the word bukmak for the treaty. This means 'Everyone' and conveys the sense of unity and collective purposes that these endeavours are all about. These treaties will set us up in the coming decades to tackle the major challenges that we face together, that will connect our region and bring our people and cultures closer together as well. And I want to acknowledge all who've worked, including the Foreign Minister, Defence Minister Richard Marles, Defence Industry Minister and Pacific Island Affairs Minister Pat Conroy and their Fijian counterparts for their hard work on this alliance and treaty. Today we also spoke about the importance of Pacific led regional architecture and the pre-COP meeting that will be held in Fiji from the 5th to 8th of October alongside a special leaders event in Tuvalu. I also want to acknowledge my deep honour in being appointed an Honorary Companion at the Order of Fiji earlier today. I am indeed humbled by accepting this and accepted on behalf of Australia as well. It underlines the importance of the friendship and relationship that we have. It is an enormous honour to be here in Fiji today with Prime Minister Rabuka on what is a historic day. It is extraordinary that we have been able as well to negotiate all of this in a discreet way and to be able to have this genuine announcement is quite extraordinary. It says something about the trust and the way that we work together that we've been able to do that. Vinaka vakalevu.

JOURNALIST: Congratulations to the both Prime Ministers for the agreement today. My question is to Prime Minister Rabuka. How will you ensure the long term protection of Fiji's sovereignty under this alliance? And Prime Minister Albanese, comments have been made that Australia is only pushing forward its agenda given China's rising influence in the region. What is your comment on that?

PRIME MINISTER RABUKA: The first one was to me.

JOURNALIST: Yes, sir. How will you ensure the long term protection of Fiji's sovereignty under this alliance?

PRIME MINISTER RABUKA: We are protected by the articles of the United Nations. We are a member of the United Nations. If anything threatens that sovereignty, we have the Vuvale partnership. We have our own regional solidarity to rely on as well as the world's understanding of the word sovereignty. I believe our sovereignty is secure. Our relationship is based on understanding, on dialogue rather than disputes. We will not take our differences to weapons. We will come to the conference table and work through that way to ensure that our sovereignty is respected.

PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: This alliance is about elevating what is a long history of defence cooperation. And indeed when we sat in our bilateral meeting, not just the Prime Minister but three of his colleagues as well, had all undertaken experience in Victoria or indeed at Duntroon. And so this is, as well, builds on the work that we've done over a long period of time standing side by side in peacekeeping missions. This is about our relationship, but elevating it to the highest possible level of an alliance.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister Albanese, this question is specifically for you. On the substance for Fiji, what new defence and security capabilities does this actually deliver on the ground for Fijian security and defence agencies in terms of patrol boats, maritime surveillance, cyber protection? Can you tell Fijians what's genuinely new here versus what already exists? And on the central commitment of Article 6, which each party is meant to act together in a common danger. So, what does that mean in plain terms, in terms of what obligates Australia to defend Fiji if it's attacked? And I'm specifically interested in your answers against the backdrop of the drugs crisis.

PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: Specifically on the latter part of the question. Firstly, the alliance provisions are very clear, which is that an attack on Fiji from an outside force would trigger Australia's full support for Fiji and for its sovereignty. When it comes to defence cooperation, what this will do is to further allow for discussions about specifics. We have provided some infrastructure in the past. It's not about troops in each other's nations or that at all, but it will allow for a clearer area of cooperation and requests to be made over the full suite of challenges that confront national security in 2026. That comes not just from traditional ways that it's seen, but areas like cyber security and other areas as well. And it will mean an upgrade in areas including increased cooperation in training and exercises as well.

JOURNALIST: Just to both leaders, this alliance sort of leaves the door open to other Pacific nations potentially joining in the future. Obviously, Matthew Wale from the Solomon Islands has talked a few times about the potential for a Pacific wide regional security pact. Are there any nations that you might like to see join this alliance in the future? And if a country like the Solomons did want to join, is there anything that's stopping them from doing so?

PRIME MINISTER RABUKA: It's not a matter of wanting. We have just signed the treaty as an example of what Pacific neighbours can do for each other and together as we move forward to ensure that the Pacific remains an ocean of peace, that we are prepared to come to everybody else at and anybody else in the Pacific region assistance when they are threatened. And that is the real nature of this. We can specifically ask for one, as I had tried to develop, and Australia said, yes, we'll go with you. And I'm sure right now there are other Pacific leaders who are waiting to come in. The more, the stronger, the better.

PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: We have said very clearly that when it comes to security issues, the Pacific family need to look after our own security. We've made that clear across the board. And the Vuvale Agreement is certainly a part of that. But we have said that we want to be as well the security partner of choice within our family. So, that has a range of aspects, including the Pacific Policing Initiative that has been very successful. An alliance, though, is something at a very different level. It's something that was proposed by Prime Minister Rabuka and we were happy to agree because of the history and the relationship that we have with Fiji, which is very, very special. It's a bilateral alliance. That is a different level from the discussions that normally take place about regional security and those elements as well.

PRIME MINISTER RABUKA: Those of you who are at the Fijian ceremonies this morning, those sponsoring the newspapers in the vernacular and news items in the vernacular, you might like to translate the words of the meke. The introduction of the seasea when the performers sat with the group talks about King George calling the colonies to war and the chiefs encouraging the young men, go, but come back with your weapons and there may be other battles in the future. And then that was in this morning's lead up to the meke. Mo kauta lesu mai nomu i wau. Bring your weapons back.

JOURNALIST: To Mr Albanese, will you now consider increasing Australia's defence spending beyond what has already been done, considering that you have effectively doubled the number of alliances that Australia has within the course of a year? And Prime Minister Rabuka, has there been any discussion as part of these negotiations about Fijians serving in the Australian Defence Force, and would you welcome that?

PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: We've just had a budget, and that budget had an additional, from memory I think I'll get this right, $54 billion of additional spending. We have increased spending, but importantly, we have increased effectiveness. You can't defend your country or any other country with a media release. What you defend it with is assets. And that is what I think we have very effectively done. There's more to do, and that is why we've made difficult decisions even in a budget that had $64 billion of savings, we provided for the increased defence expenditure.

JOURNALIST: Fijians serving in the ADF?

PRIME MINISTER RABUKA: Oh, Australian serving here?

JOURNALIST: In the ADF.

PRIME MINISTER RABUKA: In Australia? Well, you note that I had mentioned in one of the earlier news conferences, interoperability and our ability, our desire to get the forces and the personnel to be able to operate cooperatively with each other. And that is all part of being ready for whatever comes our way. Prime Minister Albanese mentioned the one they signed in the 1950s and this one is a new one, the newest one, the only one for Fiji so far. And hopefully it will give us the strength, the moral courage to say to the world, we are here, we are ready, we will do our role, we will play a role to maintain security in the region. Hopefully it will spread to the rest. But if in the God forbidden instant we are actually militarily threatened, we rely on the United Nations and our regional partners as well as our Commonwealth partners. So, these agreements matter. And we are very, very appreciative of the allocation of funds from Australia. Here in Fiji we don't see much of saving to give to somebody else. We save to keep others going. And when the budget came down last week, that was the reality of it. When you decide to look after others, your own people will have to sacrifice. Government civil servants have to sacrifice pay rises, leaving vacant some of the vacancies that are in civil service so that we can have more for the social expenditure for those less fortunate. So, we thank Australian people.

JOURNALIST: Sorry, may I clarify I wasn't clear. Would you welcome Fijians serving in the Australian Defence Force? And is that part of the discussion?

PRIME MINISTER RABUKA: Of course. We have been training together and you probably recall that we have a unit training with your military establishment in Australia. And if they are to be deployed to other parts of Australia, we'll welcome that. Depending on government to government agreements.

JOURNALIST: Prime Ministers, given the timing, you know, of this agreement, many would argue that the Vayuatini Agreement. Sorry, Veitacini Agreement, my bad, is a more stronger agreement compared to the Vuvale Agreement. And Prime Minister Rabuka, as you rightfully said, you know, this is a reflection of what two Pacific nations can do for each other. My question is around visa here, you know, between Fiji and Australia. Mr. Prime Minister, members of your government have constantly advocated, you know, for easier movement across the Pacific. So, I'm curious to know whether or not you would seek any commitment from Australia in this regard. And Mr Albanese, would Australia ever consider a visa free short stay travel for Fijians?

PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: What the Vuvale Agreement provides for is for an increase in the period of stay for Fijians coming to Australia so that it is equal with the treatment of Australians coming to Fiji. That's part of the Agreement.

JOURNALIST: You've said that this is not about any third country, but China has made it clear previously it is uneasy about the agreements that Australia has signed recently, including the Nakamal Agreement. Mr. Rabuka, can I ask do you anticipate any pushback from China on this and what would your message be to Chinese officials if they raised concerns that this was an instrument largely designed to exclude them as a security partner? And Mr. Albanese, just a clarifying question. You said earlier, I believe a billion dollars over a decade. Can I ask is there any further detail you can provide on where that investment is going, whether that is front loaded at the beginning or towards the end? Any further information on where that is provided would be helpful. Thank you.

PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: It is provided for in our budget. So, this is, we made provision for that in the budget handed down in May 12th. This isn't additional. This is the full suite of measures, including measures to fight transnational crime, measures and support in education, in health, in infrastructure. So, it's a full suite of measures, that's one billion Australian dollars, which is about one and a half Fijian dollars.

JOURNALIST: China has previously raised concerns about agreements like this that it believes are designed to block it out. As a security player in the Pacific do you anticipate any pushback from China on this and if you do get pushback on it, what's your response?

PRIME MINISTER RABUKA: I do not expect China to have any severe pushback from either governments, and I believe that they will welcome the understanding that it is within Australia and Fiji. It does not threaten Fiji's relationship with China nor Australia's relationship with China. And as we have made it very clearly in the past, your enemies are not necessarily my enemies.