Rewa high chief and former United Nations security executive Ro Naulu Mataitini has warned that Fiji is “undermining our own diplomats” and allowing foreign powers to shape national policy, in a blistering social media statement published on 27 April. Mataitini said political behaviour and poor strategic focus have eroded Fiji’s capacity to defend its interests as global powers increase their presence in Suva.
“Political behaviour and poor strategic focus are eroding Fiji’s ability to defend its national interests,” he wrote, criticising what he called the tendency of elected officials to be swayed by ceremony, flattery and glamour once in office. “There is something about politicians. To get elected, they will promise anything. But once inside Parliament, too many follow their worst instincts,” Mataitini said, accusing some leaders of succumbing to a “delusion” that blinds them to the damage their conduct does to party and state.
Mataitini pointed to an accelerating foreign diplomatic footprint in Fiji, saying new embassies and non-resident ambassadors are increasingly using Suva as a platform to advance strategic interests across the Pacific. “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, adding that many of those missions are “resourced properly” and staffed with their best people.
The chief pressed hard on whether Fiji is matching that diplomatic investment abroad. “Do we place the same priority on our ambassadors in Canberra, Beijing, Wellington or Washington? The honest answer is no,” Mataitini said, questioning whether Fiji’s overseas missions are being treated as more than protocol or consular posts and whether heads of mission are being leveraged for strategic insight.
He singled out Australia for particular criticism, alleging an imbalance of influence. “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, asking bluntly whether Fiji is shaping Australian policy or merely following it.
Mataitini called for a “strategic reset” of Fiji’s foreign policy and clearer resourcing and empowerment of its diplomatic corps so that Fiji’s missions can actively advance and defend national interests. His public intervention adds to wider debate about the Pacific’s rising geopolitical salience, as other commentators and regional leaders have warned that global tensions—such as disruption to energy markets linked to conflict in the Middle East—make a robust and independent foreign policy more important than ever.
There was no immediate response from the Fijian government or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Mataitini’s comments. His statement is likely to intensify scrutiny of Fiji’s diplomatic posture and resource allocation as Canberra, Beijing and other capitals expand their engagement in the region. Reported by Pita Ligaiula for PACNEWS.