'Indo-Pacific is our priority,' says US defense chief in Fiji visit to boost ties

The Manila Times

'Indo-Pacific is our priority,' says US defense chief in Fiji visit to boost ties  US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said a strong partnership with Fiji is critical for a free Indo-Pacific on Saturday, November 23, saying the region was a "priority" for Washington.  In a joint press conference with Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Austin announced an agreement for logistics cooperation between their forces. It includes $4.9 million in military financing pending US Congress approval.  Austin is on a tour of the Indo-Pacific where he seeks to strengthen ties between nations in the region and the US, seeing stops in the Philippines and Australia.  Austin's visit to the region comes as China builds its influence in the Pacific. China and the nearby Solomon Islands have signed a security pact, sparking concerns among some Western-aligned nations.  DVIDS/REUTERS  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe  Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net    Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital  Sign up to our newsletters: https://tmt.ph/newsletters   Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #themanilatimes #worldnews  #unitednations #fiji

Transcript

00:00And I'm very proud to be the first U.S. Secretary of Defense to ever visit Fiji.

00:06It's an honor to be here. Our relationship is rooted in common values

00:12and our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

00:17You know, the Indo-Pacific is our priority theater, and strengthening our partnerships

00:24with Fiji and other Pacific Island countries is vital to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

00:31In our meeting today, we discussed the security environment and Fiji's role as a regional leader.

00:39We discussed how we're deepening our bilateral cooperation.

00:43This includes a new acquisition and cross-servicing agreement,

00:48and I'll sign that agreement with the Ministry for Home Affairs and Immigration later today.

00:55This agreement will mean closer ties, closer logistics cooperation between our forces,

01:00including for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

01:05We're also announcing the start of negotiations on a Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA.

01:11Once complete, the SOFA will expand our bilateral defense cooperation through

01:16increased exercises and military-to-military engagements.

01:21We also covered the new security assistance that the United States is providing to Fiji,

01:28including $4.9 million in foreign military financing pending congressional approval.

01:35And finally, we discussed the unique and varied security challenges in the Pacific Islands region.

01:42Maritime security is essential, so I'm pleased that our first delivery of rigid-hull inflatable

01:49boats will arrive in the next several months. And soon after, we'll deliver a new boat ramp

01:56to support maritime patrols like maritime patrols of your waters.

02:01And we'll continue expanding our exercises and engagement together, including through

02:07the annual cartwheel exercise and through your close partnership with the Nevada National Guard.

02:13I'm sure you will agree that today marks a historic moment in the United States-Fiji

02:22security relationship, with its first ever visit by a United States Secretary of Defense

02:33to Fiji. And Fiji and the United States have a longstanding bilateral

02:39defense and security relationship. So it's been my privilege and my honor to welcome

02:48the United States Secretary of Defense to this part of the world.

02:54Fiji has benefited greatly from the U.S.-Fiji defense relationship through many programs

03:00and joining and joint collaborations that has enabled us to protect our borders

03:06and marine resources and has assisted us in tackling transnational crimes.

03:15Today, indeed, marks another milestone in the Fiji-United States relationship,

03:21and we look forward to continued efforts to strengthen collaboration.

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Transcript

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