What happened?
On July 18, India and Fiji held their first Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on defence cooperation in Suva. The meeting, co-chaired by India’s Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) Vishwesh Negi and Fiji’s Acting Permanent Secretary for Defence Sainitiki Ravuso, focused on training, capacity building, and strengthening bilateral defence ties.
Why it matters to India
The meeting builds on strong historical ties and India’s ongoing commitment to support Fiji’s development through initiatives like the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. It enhances defence collaboration and reinforces India’s strategic outreach in the Pacific region, furthering people-to-people connections and opening new opportunities for bilateral cooperation in security and technology.