Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka unveiled the country’s first National Security Strategy (NSS), presenting a people-centered framework that places the well-being of Fijians at the heart of national security. Rabuka stressed that security is not just about arms and uniforms, but about dignity, justice and resilience, tying security to everyday life—from having shelter and meals to keeping children safe, weathering cyclones and climate impacts, resisting foreign interference, and ensuring people can speak their truth without fear.
The strategy rests on three core aims: Protect Fiji and its people; Progress national development by maintaining a stable environment; and Promote a peaceful and secure Pacific region. To achieve these goals, Fiji will pursue a policy of Constructive Engagement—participating with communities and international partners on equal terms, and always on Fiji’s own terms.
This is not merely a policy document, Rabuka said; it is an action plan and blueprint for action. Implementing the NSS will be led by a newly established Security Sector Reform and Governance Division within the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, coordinating seven priority areas. These are: Modernising security institutions; Building a national intelligence capacity; Strengthening maritime protection; Combating drugs and transnational crime; Defending Fiji’s digital space; Addressing the impacts of climate change; and Promoting unity and social cohesion.
Rabuka emphasised that progress will require legal reform, institutional review and policy renewal, and the active participation of every Fijian—from civil servants to chiefs, security personnel to civil society. Human rights will remain at the core of Fiji’s security policies, with a clear pledge that the rights of the people are sacred, and security must empower rather than silence them.
For the first time, Fiji will launch a Women, Peace and Security Action Plan to ensure that women are not only protected but play a central role in shaping decisions affecting the nation’s safety. Rabuka underscored that Fiji is a sovereign nation but will work with partners on its own terms, strengthening both regional ties and global partnerships while staying true to sovereignty and mutual respect.
The NSS is designed to complement Fiji’s Foreign Policy White Paper and deepen regional and international cooperation. Fiji aims to uphold “family first” Pacific regionalism while building a secure future that stands on its own feet, with partnerships grounded in shared goals and respect for sovereignty. Rabuka called on community leaders, youth, faith groups, civil servants and security forces to work together, making the NSS a national covenant rather than the achievement of a single ministry or government.
Context and value added
– The NSS builds on growing regional and global security thinking that emphasizes whole-of-government approaches to non-traditional threats such as cybercrime, climate risks, and transnational crime. Similar reform and governance concepts, including creating dedicated coordination bodies and strengthening civil-military collaboration, are echoed in related discussions about Fiji’s security framework.
– Aligning security with development, resilience, and civil rights is seen as a practical path to bolster public trust in institutions, widen social inclusion, and improve everyday safety for all Fijians.
– The plan’s emphasis on climate resilience and maritime security reflects the distinctive security environment of Pacific island nations, where border integrity, cyber space and environmental threats increasingly intersect with traditional defense concerns.
Practical considerations and outlook
– Successful implementation will require targeted funding, ongoing capacity-building, clear timelines, measurable indicators, and transparent public reporting to maintain trust.
– Realizing the NSS’s potential depends on effective information-sharing across civilian and security agencies, as well as sustained civil society engagement to translate strategy into tangible improvements in daily safety and resilience.
– If implemented with accountability and broad participation, the NSS could strengthen Fiji’s regional and global standing while delivering safer, more cohesive communities and a more resilient nation.
Bottom line
Fiji’s first National Security Strategy reframes security as a people-centered, multi-dimensional effort that links governance, development and regional cooperation to everyday safety and long-term resilience. By balancing strong institutions with inclusive participation and a steadfast commitment to human rights, Fiji aims to build a safer future for all its citizens.
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