Fiji:Prime Minister Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka welcomed Mr. Henry Liu,

Today, Prime Minister Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka welcomed Mr. Henry Liu, the Head of the Central Intelligence Agency's Office for East Asia and the Pacific Region, to his office for a productive discussion. 

Mr. Liu was accompanied by Her Excellency Marie Damour, the United States Ambassador to Fiji. The meeting centered on fortifying Fiji-U.S. relations, boosting regional security, and enhancing development cooperation. Prime Minister Rabuka expressed Fiji's gratitude to the U.S. Government for its consistent support in critical areas, including education, fisheries, oceans management, defense, and security. He emphasized the importance of reinforcing the strong diplomatic ties between the two nations, particularly in light of recent changes in U.S. foreign policy, such as executive orders and aid restructuring. The Prime Minister also voiced Fiji's concerns regarding the rising threat of transnational crimes in the region and stressed the need for collaboration between the U.S. and Fiji to tackle these security issues. He acknowledged the invaluable assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard in improving maritime security and operational capabilities within Fiji's Exclusive Economic Zone. Additionally, Prime Minister Rabuka reiterated Fiji's ongoing support for the United States, despite the recent introduction of new U.S. tariff policies. He assured that the Fijian Government is actively engaging in discussions with the U.S. and other international partners to navigate the challenges posed by these policies while safeguarding national interests. In conclusion, PM Rabuka reaffirmed Fiji's long-standing commitment to its partnership with the United States, built on decades of trust, mutual respect, and shared regional objectives. In response, Mr. Liu expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to meet and discuss avenues for further collaboration between Fiji and the broader Pacific region. He emphasized the importance of strengthening ties in light of increasing threats in the Pacific, with a focus on enhancing security training, capacity building, maritime awareness, fisheries and seabed resource management, and addressing rising transnational crime, narcotics, and cyber threats in Fiji and the region. Moreover, Mr. Liu highlighted the need to foster better people-to-people relations and ensure that the U.S. collaborates with like-minded countries to promote leadership in the region. 

The meeting underscored Fiji's strategic approach to balancing its sovereignty while seeking international partnerships to tackle regional challenges, further solidifying the unique relationship Fiji shares with the United States of America.