Fiji: First National Security Strategy does not change existing Government priorities
On 12 August, Fiji released its first National Security Strategy (NSS 2025-2029). The NSS follows 2 years of community and specialist consultation and creates an action plan to implement the findings of the National Security and Defence Review (NSDR) released in October 2024. Prime Minister Rabuka emphasised the need to address non-traditional threats, including climate change, cyber attacks, organised crime, economic shocks, regional instability, and health crises. These translated into seven priorities, including building a national-level intelligence capability, maritime protection, combating transnational crime, cyberdefence, and social cohesion. PM Rabuka emphasised the need for greater integration of government agencies at the ministry and senior official level with a new Senior Officials Committee and reform of the National Security Council, in addition to modernisation of each traditional security institution. No specific state threat actors were mentioned, but a domestic and Pacific regional focus were detailed, including working with regional partners as equals.
Assessment: The NSS represents a conceptual switch from traditional security to human-centred security, highly likely reflecting the influence of public consultations and the academics that led the NSDR. It also reflects a continuation of the current Government’s security priorities of maritime security, transnational organised crime (specifically drug crime), and public trust (See SPI #12 of 2-15 January 2025 and SPI #15 of 13-26 February 2025). Allocations in the 2025-2026 budget will indicate the viability of new capabilities such as cyber defence and a national intelligence assessment body. The NSS is the final strategy document intended to guide the Government’s work alongside the National Development Plan and Foreign Policy White Paper that will also be key themes of the Government’s re-election campaign in 2026.
Sources: Fiji Government, “Prime Minister Rabuka’s Remarks at the Launch of the National Security Strategy 2025–2029: (12‑08‑2025),” Office of the Prime Minister Fiji, 12 August 2025; Fiji Government, Facebook, “National Security Strategy,” 3 June 2025; Nikhil Aiyush Kumar, “Security Strategy to Shake up National Defense,” FBC News, 8 August 2025.
