Suva, 27 April 2026 — Rewa high chief and former United Nations security executive Ro Naulu Mataitini has issued a stark rebuke of Fiji’s foreign policy, saying the country is “undermining our own diplomats” by sidelining its missions abroad and allowing foreign envoys in Suva to shape government decisions. In a strongly worded social media statement on Monday, Mataitini called for a “strategic reset” as global powers deepen their presence in the Pacific.
Mataitini accused political leaders of succumbing to ceremonial trappings and external flattery once in office, a pattern he said has weakened institutional focus and the country’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, adding that many convince themselves they are “better than everyone else” and become vulnerable to influence.
Pointing to a rapid increase in diplomatic activity in Suva, Mataitini warned that Fiji is being seen as “a platform for influence in the Pasifika,” with new embassies opening and non-resident ambassadors “flocking to Suva.” He said those countries are “sending their best people” and resourcing them properly — a contrast, he argued, to Fiji’s approach to its own overseas representation.
“Now ask yourself: how are we responding? Do we place the same priority on our ambassadors in Canberra, Beijing, Wellington or Washington? The honest answer is no,” Mataitini wrote. He questioned whether Fiji’s missions have been reduced to protocol and consular functions instead of being empowered to advance and defend national interests, and whether the insights of Fiji’s Heads of Missions are being leveraged in policy-making.
Mataitini singled out Australia as a prominent example of the imbalance, saying Fiji has “now had three Australian High Commissioners who exerted and continue to exert enormous influence over our government.” He added that the current Australian High Commissioner was “selling Australia’s interests brilliantly,” attributing that success in part to what he called Fijian political gullibility.
The chief’s intervention comes as geopolitical competition in the Pacific has intensified and as small island states confront economic and security pressures from global crises, including volatility in energy markets. Mataitini framed his remarks as a timely warning that the window for correcting course is narrowing: “These questions go to the heart of why our foreign policy engagement is ready for a strategic reset, especially now!”
No response from government ministers or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was reported at the time of Mataitini’s statement. His comments add a high-profile local voice to ongoing debates about Fiji’s diplomatic posture and how the country should balance engagement with major powers while safeguarding its sovereign interests.