Suva — Rewa High Chief and former United Nations security executive Ro Naulu Mataitini has warned that Fiji is “undermining our own diplomats,” accusing political leaders of sidelining career envoys and allowing foreign powers to shape national policy to their advantage. In a strongly worded social media statement on April 27, Mataitini said weak strategic focus and political behaviour have left Fiji ill‑prepared to defend its interests as global competition in the Pacific intensifies.
Mataitini argued that new and expanding diplomatic footprints in Suva are strategic, not merely ceremonial. “Other countries are establishing a presence in Fiji at an accelerating pace. Not consular offices. Not protocol posts. Their presence is strategic – designed to advance their national interests in a region that is becoming increasingly important to global geopolitics,” he wrote, pointing to newly opened embassies and non‑resident ambassadors using Suva as a platform for influence across the Pasifika.
The chief directly questioned whether Fiji is matching that effort abroad, asking whether the country is prioritising and properly resourcing its missions in Canberra, Beijing, Wellington or Washington. He warned against reducing Fiji’s overseas posts to “protocol and consular offices” rather than leveraging heads of mission for policy and strategic insight. “Are we resourcing our embassies to advance and defend Fiji’s interests? Or are we reducing them to protocol and consular offices?” he asked.
Mataitini singled out Australia as a clear example of imbalance, saying Fiji has had “three Australian High Commissioners who exerted and continue to exert enormous influence over our government.” He added that the current Australian High Commissioner is “selling Australia’s interests brilliantly” and attributed that success to what he called “our political gullibility.” His comments reflect long‑running concerns among some analysts and traditional leaders about external influence and the balance of relationships with regional powers.
The Rewa chief also criticised domestic political culture, saying many elected officials, once in office, succumb to “ceremonial glorification” or are courted by flattery and glamour, which he said breeds a dangerous complacency toward foreign envoys. He warned that such behaviour damages reputations, parties and governments and called for greater self‑awareness among politicians who shape Fiji’s foreign policy.
Mataitini concluded that Fiji’s foreign policy needs a “strategic reset, especially now,” urging the government to reassess its diplomatic posture and ensure its missions are equipped to protect national interests. His intervention comes as small island states in the region grapple with an evolving geopolitical landscape that includes an expanding diplomatic presence in Suva and heightened global competition for influence.
The statement has renewed debate about the government’s overseas priorities and the role of career diplomats, putting pressure on policymakers to clarify how Fiji will respond. Mataitini’s critique is the latest public rebuke from a prominent traditional leader and international security professional; it adds urgency to ongoing discussions about how Pacific nations should balance relationships with larger powers while safeguarding sovereignty and strategic autonomy.