India and Fiji on Monday unveiled a broad plan to deepen defence cooperation and pledged to work jointly for a peaceful and inclusive Indo-Pacific, following wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka in New Delhi.
Standing beside Rabuka, Modi observed, “India and Fiji may be oceans apart, but our aspirations sail in the same boat.” The Fijian leader is on a three-day visit to India, his first since assuming office.
Both sides signed seven agreements spanning medicine, skill development, trade, and capacity building, while placing a strong emphasis on defence and maritime security. Modi announced that India would provide training and equipment support to Fiji, and that New Delhi has created the post of a defence attaché in its high commission in Suva.
The leaders strongly condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack, committing themselves to a policy of “zero tolerance” against terrorism and rejecting “double standards” in dealing with the menace. “We have decided to strengthen mutual cooperation in the defence and security sector. An action plan has been prepared for this,” Modi said in his remarks to the press.
Also read: PM Modi holds talks with Fijian PM Rabuka at Hyderabad House
Climate change also figured prominently in the discussions. Modi assured Rabuka that India would support Fiji in building disaster response mechanisms and tackling environmental threats. In a further gesture, India announced the gifting of 12 agricultural drones and two mobile soil testing laboratories to Fiji.
The two prime ministers shared their vision for a robust and sustainable Indo-Pacific and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing regional peace, stability, and prosperity. The joint statement noted, “The leaders underscored the importance of a free, open, secure, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.”
On global governance, both leaders called for urgent reforms of the United Nations, including expansion of the Security Council to reflect present-day realities. Fiji reiterated its support for India’s candidature as a permanent member of a reformed Council and endorsed New Delhi’s bid for non-permanent membership for the 2028–29 term.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to South-South cooperation and to promoting the collective voice of developing nations. Rabuka commended India’s leadership in organising the Voice of Global South Summits, describing them as “a crucial platform to deliberate on shared concerns, challenges and developmental priorities of developing countries.”
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