Israel’s foreign minister told Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka that Israel is ready to work with Fiji on development and security cooperation, but that Fiji would decide which areas best serve its national interests, according to officials after their meeting.
Gideon Sa’ar said a range of possible areas for cooperation had been presented to the Fijian government, but he did not provide figures or specify the level of investment or support Israel might contribute at this stage. “The decision on which areas to pursue would now rest with Fiji,” he said, underscoring that Wellington’s priorities would guide the partnership rather than a preset Israeli agenda.
Sa’ar highlighted Israel’s prior engagement with Fiji through MASHAV, Israel’s international development agency, noting the agency has already provided training opportunities for Fijians both in Fiji and in Israel. He also told Rabuka that the planned opening of an Israeli embassy in Fiji would accelerate implementation of agreed initiatives by providing resident diplomatic and agency staff to coordinate programs more quickly. Sa’ar said he has “instructed on a new future of the head of MASHAV agency… very soon,” signaling imminent leadership changes intended to strengthen the development link.
Security cooperation was a significant strand of discussions. Sa’ar warned that Israel faces enemies who use terrorism not only inside Israel but also against Israeli diplomats abroad, and while he would not rule out the possibility of such threats reaching the Pacific, he said cooperation with Fiji would be important in helping to prevent any such attacks. He framed the talks as both proactive and preventive, without detailing specific security measures or commitments.
The meeting comes as Prime Minister Rabuka pursues a wider diplomatic and economic outreach. Earlier this year his government formalised a private-sector partnership with India to boost trade and investment, and the 2024–2025 national budget increased allocations to domestic security agencies — a backdrop that helps explain Fiji’s interest in both development assistance and enhanced security ties. Officials say the Fijian side will now review the range of proposals from Israel and identify opportunities that align with national priorities, from capacity-building to training.
What is new in this development is the public confirmation that an Israeli embassy will be established in Fiji and that leadership changes at MASHAV are imminent, both steps Sa’ar pledged would make cooperation more immediate. Until Fiji specifies the priority areas and Israel clarifies its financial or technical commitments, the scope and timeline of concrete projects remain to be determined. The next stage will be Fijian decisions on which partnerships to accept and the operationalisation of the embassy and MASHAV leadership to translate discussions into programs.