In a bid to strengthen ties between Fiji and France, a defence mission is now to be set up at the French Embassy in Suva.
This was welcomed by Fiji’s Minister of Defence Pio Tikoduadua, while signing the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with Sébastien Lecornu, French Minister for the Armed Forces, in Noumea recently. The pair were attending the South Pacific Defence Ministers Meeting.
In a statement, the French Embassy said this new move will open up a lot more defence cooperation opportunities for both countries.
“This legal agreement facilitates defence relations and provides a framework for cooperation activities such as visits, the sharing of experience, joint activities in the field of research and armament, advice to the Republic of Fiji Military Forces through training and support actions,emergency assistance, among others.”
The defence mission will be tasked with strengthening exchanges on defence policy and military cooperation.
It will be the second defence mission established in the South Pacific, following that in Canberra, Australia.
