Rewa high chief and former United Nations security executive Ro Naulu Mataitini has warned that Fiji risks weakening its own foreign policy by sidelining career diplomats and allowing foreign envoys to shape decisions to their advantage. In a strongly worded social media statement on Sunday, Mataitini urged a “strategic reset” of Fiji’s diplomatic engagement as global powers step up their presence in the Pacific.
Mataitini argued that political behaviour and poor strategic focus have eroded Fiji’s ability to defend national interests. “There is something about politicians. To get elected, they will promise anything. But once inside Parliament, too many follow their worst instincts,” he wrote, accusing some leaders of succumbing to “ceremonial glorification” and flattery from external actors. He said that many in government convince themselves they are “better than everyone else” and fail to draw on the technical insights of Fiji’s Heads of Mission.
Highlighting a steady expansion of foreign representation in Suva, Mataitini said the new presence is “strategic – designed to advance [other countries’] national interests in a region that is becoming increasingly important to global geopolitics.” He pointed to new embassies and an influx of non-resident ambassadors as evidence that external powers are “resourcing them properly” and positioning themselves to influence regional policy.
The Rewa chief singled out Australia as a case where the imbalance is stark. “Take the case of Australia. 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 said, questioning whether Fiji is doing enough to advance its interests in Canberra, Beijing, Wellington and Washington.
Mataitini’s intervention calls into focus long‑running debates about how small island states should respond as major powers deepen diplomatic, economic and security ties in the Pacific. His critique comes against a backdrop of wider regional instability — recent coverage has noted global events, including tensions in the Middle East, have driven up oil prices and sharpened strategic competition, amplifying the stakes for Pacific foreign policy.
As part of his prescription, Mataitini asked whether Fiji is properly resourcing its embassies and leveraging the insights of its diplomats or reducing overseas missions to “protocol and consular offices.” He warned that allowing foreign envoys unfettered access to ministers risks shaping Fiji’s policy “to their advantage,” rather than defending Fiji’s national priorities.
Mataitini’s remarks add a fresh voice from the chiefly and diplomatic community into an unfolding policy discussion in Suva about how Fiji positions itself amid intensified great-power engagement. He framed his call as urgent: “These questions go to the heart of why our foreign policy engagement is ready for a strategic reset, especially now.” The government has not publicly addressed his statement.