India and Fiji, oceans apart from one another, reaffirmed on Monday (August 25, 2025) their strategic priorities are closely aligned. After intensive discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka at New Delhi, both nations agreed upon the ambitious action plan to expand cooperation in defence. Seven bilateral agreements were signed, broadening the areas of cooperation, which include maritime security, disaster management and capacity-building.
Prime Minister Modi emphasized that India would help bring training and supply equipment to enhance Fiji’s maritime security capability. This partnership holds strategic importance, given Fiji’s centrality in the South Pacific and the growing global focus on Indo-Pacific stability. Against the background of increasing Chinese influence in the Pacific, New Delhi’s outreach to Suva is considered timely and critical.
#WATCH | Delhi | PM Modi says, “India and Fiji support a free, inclusive, open, secure and prosperous India-Pacific. The PM’s ‘Oceans of Peace’ is a very positive thought. India and Fiji may be oceans apart, but our aspirations sail in the same boat…We are part of a world… pic.twitter.com/uBkK0x6sfF
— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2025
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Partnership Beyond Security
While discussions were focused on defence cooperation, they took on broader themes of shared values and global responsibilities. Modi noted India’s and Fiji’s joint commitment to maintain a free, open, inclusive and secure Indo-Pacific. The two leaders reiterated the importance of respecting the independence and identity of smaller nations in particular in the Global South.
Prime Minister Modi noted that India walked with Fiji as a “co-traveller” in the development journey of the Global South. The message cemented New Delhi’s aspiration to act as the voice of developing nations by ensuring that their concerns and priorities are not sidelined in an increasingly changing global order.
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Climate Change and Disaster Preparedness
Climate change formed another key pillar of the discussions. For Fiji, rising sea levels and extreme weather events are existential challenges. Modi assured that India will partner the island nation to strengthen disaster response and resilience measures, including sharing expertise with respect to early-warning systems, disaster relief management, and capacity-building initiatives to prepare communities for climate-related risks.
In this regard, his first official visit to India carried a lot of symbolism. His travelling to Delhi really went to emphasize Fiji’s confidence in India as a partner who could marry development cooperation with security engagement. For India, this visit went further to cement its footprint in the Pacific while seeking to align with other like-minded nations towards stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
As Prime Minister Modi said, “India and Fiji may be oceans apart, but our aspirations sail in the same boat.” The visit not only serves to confirm mutual trust but will also help to set the stage for a partnership that is in equal measure defence, development and diplomacy.
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