SUVA, 27 April 2026 — Rewa High Chief and former United Nations security executive Ro Naulu Mataitini has issued a stark rebuke of Fiji’s current foreign policy, warning that the country is “undermining our own diplomats” by sidelining them while allowing growing foreign influence to shape government decisions.
In a forceful social media statement published on Sunday, Mataitini said political behaviour and “poor strategic focus” have eroded Fiji’s ability to defend its national interests as external powers expand their footprint in the region. “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.
Mataitini questioned whether Fiji was matching that level of commitment in its own diplomatic network, asking bluntly whether the country is resourcing its missions abroad to the same degree. “Do we place the same priority on our ambassadors in Canberra, Beijing, Wellington or Washington? The honest answer is no,” he said, urging officials to move beyond reducing overseas posts to “protocol and consular offices” and to better leverage the insights of Fiji’s Heads of Missions.
The Rewa chief also took aim at domestic political culture, arguing that many elected leaders prioritise personal image and short‑term gain over national interest 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 wrote, accusing some ministers of succumbing to “ceremonial glorification” and external flattery that blinds them to the long‑term damage to Fiji’s reputation and policy autonomy.
Mataitini singled out Australia as a prominent example of outside influence, saying Fiji has had “three Australian High Commissioners who exerted and continue to exert enormous influence over our government.” He added: “The current HC is selling Australia’s interests brilliantly. His success is built on our political gullibility.” Those comments reflect growing regional sensitivity to how major powers engage in the Pacific amid intensifying geopolitical competition.
The statement calls for what Mataitini describes as a “strategic reset” of Fiji’s foreign policy at a time when new embassies and non‑resident ambassadors are increasingly based in Suva and well‑resourced by their home governments. “They send their best people. They resource them properly,” he wrote, and asked whether Fiji’s overseas posture — including staffing, funding and the role of diplomatic heads — is fit to protect national interests.
Mataitini’s intervention adds to an ongoing debate about governance and capacity in Fiji’s public sector, which has featured repeated calls from civil society and some officials for stronger strategic planning and institutional oversight. His comments are likely to intensify scrutiny of how the government balances domestic political priorities with the demands of an evolving regional diplomacy, especially as global powers step up engagement in the Pacific.