SUVA — Rewa high chief and former United Nations security executive Ro Naulu Mataitini has warned that Fiji is undermining its own diplomatic capacity by sidelining its envoys and allowing foreign interests disproportionate influence over national policy. In a strongly worded social media statement on Monday, Mataitini said political self‑interest and poor strategic focus have hollowed out Fiji’s ability to defend its interests as global powers expand their presence in the Pacific.
“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 elected officials of succumbing to “ceremonial glorification” and flattery that leaves them blind to the damage being done to the nation, their parties and government. He said this political culture has translated into a long‑running failure to prioritise and resource Fiji’s diplomatic network.
Mataitini pointed to a rapid increase in foreign activity in Suva, saying it is no longer limited to consular and protocol posts. “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,” he said, noting “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. They resource them properly.”
Against that backdrop, Mataitini questioned whether Fiji is doing the same for its missions abroad. “Do we place the same priority on our ambassadors in Canberra, Beijing, Wellington or Washington? The honest answer is no,” he wrote, calling for a “strategic reset” that would see Fiji better resourcing its embassies, leveraging the insights of its Heads of Mission and ensuring domestic decision‑making is not shaped to the advantage of foreign envoys.
Mataitini singled out Australia as a notable example of the imbalance he sees. “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,” he said, urging a reassessment of how Fiji advances its interests in Canberra and elsewhere.
The chief’s comments come as heightened global geopolitics and energy market volatility — including fallout from the Middle East crisis that has driven up oil prices — have increased international focus on the Pacific. Mataitini framed the timing as critical: “These questions go to the heart of why our foreign policy engagement is ready for a strategic reset, especially now!”
There was no immediate response from government or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Mataitini’s statement in available reporting. His intervention adds a prominent voice to broader debates about governance, external influence and Fiji’s diplomatic posture at a time when the Pacific is attracting intensified strategic attention from a growing number of external powers.