Australia and Fiji are strengthening their Defence partnership through a rotation of Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) personnel spending the next five months in Australia.
The landmark company-sized RFMF contingent has been deployed to Australia in support of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 and Exercise Coral Warrior 2025.
Around 130 RFMF personnel will be embedded within Army's 7 Brigade at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane, conducting a series of familiarisation and field training activities alongside the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
This non-reciprocal rotational company is the first of its kind with any Pacific defence force and will inform options for potential future rotational models.
The deployment allows ADF and RFMF personnel to integrate, collaborate and build collective capacity prior to conducting a series of joint exercises at Talisman Sabre 2025.
By training, exercising and deploying together, Fiji and Australia are improving their combined capability and interoperability.
This extension of the Vuvale partnership builds on the close cooperation, consultation and friendship between the two nations with the commitment to this rotational company pilot demonstrating ties built on mutual interests and training objectives.
Australia is committed to working and training alongside its Pacific partners in support of a peaceful, secure and prosperous Pacific region.
Quotes attributable to Chief of Defence Force, Admiral David Johnston AC RAN:
"In the spirit of Vuvale, Australia and Fiji share a strong Defence partnership built on mutual benefit, cooperation and respect.
"The Republic of Fiji Military Forces rotational company pilot uplifts the interoperability of our forces and is an excellent opportunity for our nations.
"I am pleased that Defence is able to partner with Fiji to deliver an extended Republic of Fiji Military Forces deployment to Australia."
