Relationship dossier
Fiji
United States
Relationship assessment
Practical cooperation has grown, following substantial U.S.–Fiji tensions after the 2006 coup.
Fiji toward United States
+30Fiji has engaged in bilateral security cooperation with the United States, including maritime law-enforcement cooperation under a shiprider arrangement. Fiji’s post-coup period also brought strained relations with Washington, before engagement resumed after elections.
United States toward Fiji
+35The United States has provided development and disaster-response assistance to Fiji and engaged its government through high-level Pacific diplomacy. After Fiji’s 2006 coup, Washington restricted some assistance and imposed visa measures; engagement was restored following Fiji’s return to elected government.
Overall relationship
+30The relationship combines practical security and aid cooperation with a significant episode of U.S. pressure after Fiji’s 2006 coup. Subsequent political normalization and continued engagement underpin a broadly cooperative, but not exceptionally close, bilateral relationship.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Fiji and the United States have developed practical cooperation in security, development and disaster response, alongside a period of serious friction after Fiji’s 2006 coup. The United States restricted some assistance and imposed visa measures following the coup, while later restoring engagement after Fiji’s return to elected government. Recent high-level engagement and continued assistance support a generally cooperative relationship, though its breadth and durability are not fully clear.
Areas of tension
- U.S. restrictions and visa measures following Fiji’s 2006 coup and the subsequent period of military rule.
Key developments
Following Fiji’s 2006 coup, the United States restricted some assistance and imposed visa measures.
The United States restored engagement after Fiji returned to elected government.
Fiji and the United States conducted maritime law-enforcement cooperation through a shiprider arrangement.
The United States and Fiji held high-level engagement as part of U.S. outreach to Pacific island countries.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of current bilateral security cooperation are unclear.
- The scale and continuity of direct U.S. development and disaster assistance to Fiji are uncertain.