Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua has called for a new “hybrid” capability for the Republic of Fiji Military Forces that would allow the military to support the Government and the Fiji Police Force on an ongoing basis without the need for a formal state of emergency. Speaking at a press conference at RFMF headquarters yesterday, Mr Tikoduadua framed the proposal as part of a wider effort to modernise Fiji’s defence framework and better align military roles with evolving national security challenges.
“This type of capability would allow the RFMF to support national security operations without the need for a formal declaration of emergency before assistance can be provided,” Tikoduadua told reporters. He said the idea was prompted in large part by public calls for greater military involvement in tackling the country’s growing drug problem and by the practical limits of current law, which largely confines the RFMF to a supporting role in law-and-order situations.
Tikoduadua identified specific units he said were well suited to the hybrid role: the 3rd Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment, the Naval Division and the Territorial Forces. “These units already operate across different parts of the country and maintain strong connections with communities,” he said, arguing that their existing geographic reach and community links would be an asset in national security operations that straddle policing and defence functions.
The minister stressed that legislative reform would be required before such a capability could be formalised. As Fiji reviews its national defence laws, Tikoduadua said the proposed Defence Act must reflect an evolving role for the RFMF and align with guidance in the National Security Strategy. He acknowledged current legal barriers, noting the law “forbids RFMF to be the first responder,” with the exception of naval operations at sea that are already conducted under customs and maritime roles.
The push for a hybrid force comes amid growing attention to drug-related crime and institutional calls for a coordinated response. Earlier reporting showed the Fiji Corrections Service pressing to be included in the national drug strategy and the government allocating $2 million in the 2024–25 budget for a Narcotics Bureau under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Tikoduadua said similar arrangements — where defence forces play a frontline role in certain security operations — exist in other countries, and suggested Fiji should consider tailored safeguards and legal parameters if it follows that path.
Mr Tikoduadua also referenced recent parliamentary remarks urging the public not to prescribe specific roles for the military, reflecting sensitivity about blurring lines between policing and defence. He said the hybrid concept would not sideline the Police but would allow a more integrated, legally sanctioned response when national security demands stretch civilian capacities.
The proposal represents the latest development in an unfolding debate over how Fiji will confront non-traditional security threats. For the idea to move forward, lawmakers will need to weigh changes to the Defence Act and related statutes, and the government will have to work closely with the Police and civilian agencies to define roles, command arrangements and civilian oversight.
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