True mateship and regional solidarity were on full display today as 129 Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) personnel joined their Australian counterparts for joint training under the Vuvale Partnership at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Central Queensland.
Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and a high-level delegation witnessed the training, which forms part of Talisman Sabre 2025 — the largest combined military exercise led by the Australian Defence Force.
The exercise involves more than 30,000 military personnel from 19 partner nations, including the United States, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, and Tonga.
“By training, exercising and deploying together, Fiji and Australia are improving our combined capability, capacity and interoperability,” Prime Minister Rabuka said.
“Our shared commitment to this rotational company pilot demonstrates our close ties built on mutual interests and purpose.”
The RFMF’s participation marks a significant milestone in defence cooperation between Fiji and Australia, as part of an innovative rotational company pilot, the first of its kind involving a Pacific defence force. The pilot is designed to deepen tactical interoperability, enhance regional security collaboration, and test new models for future cooperation.
The Fijian contingent will spend five months in Australia working closely with the ADF across a range of combined exercises, learning from one another through mutual respect and shared values.
Prime Minister Rabuka, accompanied by key ministers and senior military officials, also observed a live offensive training phase and addressed the troops, commending their service, professionalism, and dedication.
“Our ability to stand together and rely on each other in the face of mounting challenges is at the heart of the Vuvale Partnership.”
The visit underscores Fiji’s growing strategic role in the Indo-Pacific and the strength of its bilateral ties with Australia, grounded in shared democratic values, regional security objectives, and people-to-people connections.
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