SUVA — Rewa High Chief and former United Nations security executive Ro Naulu Mataitini has bluntly warned that Fiji is “undermining our own diplomats” by failing to give its overseas missions the attention and resources needed to defend national interests as global powers deepen their footprint in Suva.
In a strongly worded social media statement on April 27, Mataitini said political behaviour and a lack of strategic focus have eroded Fiji’s ability to shape foreign policy. He criticised what he described as a political class that, once in office, “succumb to ceremonial glorification” and flocks to the trappings of power rather than engaging with substantive diplomatic strategy. “If they were honest, they would realise that we, the voters, see straight through them,” he wrote.
Mataitini warned that the diplomatic balance is shifting in Fiji’s favour to other countries that are “resourcing their people properly.” He pointed to a surge in diplomatic presence, saying “new embassies are opening. Non-resident ambassadors are flocking to Suva. They see Fiji as a platform for influence in the Pasifika. They send their best people.” By contrast, he argued, Fiji’s own missions risk being reduced to “protocol and consular offices” instead of active platforms to advance and defend national interests.
The Rewa chief singled out Australia for particular criticism, asserting that Canberra’s envoys have exerted “enormous influence” over successive governments. “We have now had three Australian High Commissioners who exerted and continue to exert enormous influence over our government. The current HC is selling Australia’s interests brilliantly. His success is built on our political gullibility,” Mataitini wrote, challenging whether Fiji is doing enough to prioritise and resource its representations in Canberra, Beijing, Wellington and Washington.
His comments come as Pacific islands face heightened geopolitical and economic pressures — a backdrop that has seen more capitals ramp up engagement in the region. Recent reporting has highlighted how growing global tensions, including those affecting fuel and shipping markets, are raising the strategic stakes for small island states. Mataitini argued that the accelerating diplomatic activity in Suva makes it imperative for Fiji to reassess how it deploys and empowers its Heads of Mission to provide policy insight and protect national interests.
Mataitini called for a “strategic reset” in foreign policy and urged that Fiji leverage the expertise of its diplomats rather than leaving policy influence to foreign envoys with unfettered access to ministers. His statement adds a prominent, public voice to ongoing debates in Fiji about how the country should navigate competing international interests; there was no immediate government response to his remarks.