New Zealand and Fiji are finalising a defence agreement that will increase engagement between the two countries' militaries and help build capacity and skills in the Fiji Defence Force, Fiji's prime minister says.
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Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka told media in Wellington, where he is meeting senior NZ government officials including the prime minister and opposition leader, the agreement would be finalised next week.
"The agreement will allow defence officials to undertake engagement in different areas including capacity building and upskilling and exposure to new technologies, interoperability and technical support among others," he said on Wednesday.
The agreement comes as NZ, Australia and their partners seek to deter Pacific Islands nations from forming security ties with China, which last year struck a security pact with the Solomon Islands.
In May, the US and Papua New Guinea signed a defence co-operation agreement and a maritime surveillance deal.
Australia is negotiating a security treaty with PNG and signed another such deal with Vanuatu, although both deals have been delayed.
NZ last year signed a partnership statement with Fiji, agreeing to work more closely in areas such as security, protecting shared interests and economic resilience.
Concern about becoming embroiled in strategic competition between the US and China is emerging as a domestic political issue in PNG and Vanuatu.
Regional leaders have also raised concerns about the possible militarisation of the Pacific.
Mr Rabuka said the region would only need to worry about militarisation if diplomacy and common neighbourly discussions failed.
"I am sure we can continue our neighbourly co-operation and keep away discussions of other military interests in the region," he said.
Mr Rabuka and NZ Prime Minister Chris Hipkins met earlier on Wednesday in private to discuss matters including economic ties, climate change and Fiji's recovery from climate change.
Mr Hipkins reiterated the need for regions to work together.
"We know we are stronger when we combine our collective efforts and focus on Pacific regionalism and the priorities of the blue Pacific continent," he said at the joint press conference.
Australian Associated Press
