Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka Strengthens India Ties
Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka Stands with India as U.S. Imposes 50% Tariff
Against the backdrop of Washington’s decision to impose steep 50% tariffs on Indian goods, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka on Tuesday (August 26, 2025) said he had conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that “somebody is not very happy with you.”
Speaking at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in New Delhi, Rabuka recalled his candid words to Modi during their bilateral meeting: “But then you are big enough to weather those discomforts.” The remarks came just a day before the U.S. tariffs take effect, a move that threatens India’s labour-intensive sectors including shrimp, apparel, leather, and gems & jewellery.
Fiji Prime Minister: Strengthening Fiji-India Partnership
Prime Minister Rabuka is on a three-day state visit to India, his first in the current tenure, aimed at bolstering cooperation in areas ranging from maritime security and defence to digital technology, healthcare, and trade. On Monday, Rabuka and Modi held what the Ministry of External Affairs described as “comprehensive and forward-looking discussions,” producing a joint action plan for strengthening defence collaboration and supporting an inclusive Indo-Pacific.
The joint statement underscored Rabuka’s flagship concept, the “Ocean of Peace”, which advocates a peaceful, secure, and sustainable future for the Pacific and beyond. Modi, in turn, commended Rabuka’s leadership in championing this vision and emphasized India’s willingness to work with Fiji to advance it on global platforms.
‘Ocean of Peace’ as a Global Call
At the Sapru House lecture hosted by ICWA, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka expanded on the philosophy behind the Ocean of Peace. He stressed that the Pacific nations, though small in size, feel the shockwaves of global geopolitical and economic disruptions.
“A lot of people, big leaders of big nations, have taken up this concept. That is why I call it the family approach. Even when the smallest member is uncomfortable, the whole family must sit up and listen,” Rabuka explained.
He noted that leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping have engaged with the idea during discussions, and that the concept is slowly gaining resonance in international dialogues. “Our job is to take it to the world. It is up to the United Nations and regional leaders to adopt it, and hopefully we can spread peace,” he said.
Fiji Prime Minister: A Message Amid U.S.-India Strains
The timing of Rabuka’s remarks is significant. India’s relations with Washington have soured in recent months after U.S. President Donald Trump not only doubled tariffs on Indian imports but also slapped additional duties tied to India’s purchase of Russian crude oil. The resulting 50% tariff wall is set to test New Delhi’s export-driven industries, many of which employ millions of workers.
Rabuka, while refraining from naming countries, made a pointed reference to the global pressures India is currently facing. By assuring Modi that India is “big enough” to endure the turbulence, he indirectly positioned Fiji as a voice of solidarity in times of economic and diplomatic strain.
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