The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence chairperson Lenora Qereqeretabua told legislators on Wednesday that the committee had recommended deferring ratification of the two agreements, throwing a spanner in Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka's efforts to get them over the line.
The Vuvale Union and the Ocean of Peace Alliance (Veitacini Treaty) were signed in July. A treaty signed between Fiji and Australia was described by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as “one of the most significant endeavours” undertaken by Canberra. The Fijian and Australian governments had said the agreements would strengthen cooperation on security, economic development, climate resilience and regional stability.
In her foreword to the committee's report, Qereqeretabua said the committee acknowledged the Vuvale Union's potential to strengthen economic cooperation, infrastructure development, education, health services, climate resilience and people-to-people relations. "However, concerns were raised regarding the implications of closer economic and institutional integration, Fiji's ability to maintain independent relationships with other development partners, the protection of critical infrastructure and sovereign data, and the transparency of the proposed ten-year Work Plan and financial commitments."
On the Veitacini Treaty, the committee expressed specific concern "regarding the interpretation and potential implications of mutual defence obligations, visiting forces arrangements, foreign military presence, intelligence sharing, third-party security engagements and the protection of Fiji's constitutional authority over defence and national security decisions".
Rabuka said he was "very disappointed" and would pursue "another route" in the House to get the bilateral agreements ratified.
The recommendation comes after one of Fiji's most prominent traditional leaders, Ratu Tevita Mara, warned Fijian lawmakers in September to vote down both treaties.