Five Fijians will join the US Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane on a bilateral patrol aimed at deterring illegal fishing, narcotics trafficking and other illicit activities within Fiji's sovereign waters.
This was highlighted during the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane media tour at Suva Port ahead of its departure in four days.
US Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane, Commanding Officer Justin Matejka says the ship riders from the Fiji Navy, Fiji Maritime Surveillance Rescue Coordination Centre, Police and Fisheries will lead the operations under Fiji's authority, while the US Coast Guard provides the platform and support.
He says the officers will integrate into the cutter's operations team and assist in tactical planning, including identifying targets for inspection, determining priorities and making the most efficient use of time and resources at sea.
Matejka says Fiji provided some of its best personnel for the patrol, and the exchange will allow both sides to learn from each other's experience and expertise.
United States Embassy Suva Military Group Chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation officer Nate Baladad shares one of the Fijian officers sailing aboard is a graduate of the US Naval Academy.
He says a fisheries officer who recently completed Sea Vision training on the US-provided maritime domain awareness platform will also contribute expertise, local knowledge of Fiji's waters and an understanding of potential offenders to help build an effective operational picture.
Matejka says Fiji and the United States have been conducting bilateral operations since 2018, and exercising the arrangement regularly helps strengthen Fiji's capability and allows both countries to work together more seamlessly when required.
Responding to concerns about the challenges Fiji faces in monitoring its vast maritime space and the evolving drug threat, Matejka says stronger collaboration, coordination and communication will be needed to identify offenders and ensure the right authorities are involved in enforcement efforts.
Insert: Baladad on operations 17th June
Matejka adds that beyond the vessel itself, the US Coast Guard brings operational experience gained from different regions of the world and expertise in connecting available information and resources to improve maritime awareness and support informed decision-making across vast ocean areas.
He says the vessel's visit is driven by a shared commitment to safeguarding the Blue Pacific, recognising that Fiji's prosperity and the wellbeing of its people are closely linked to the health of its maritime environment.
Matejka says the partnership extends beyond operations at sea, with the crew engaging in community activities during their stay in Suva, including visits to a local high school to introduce students to flag football and hosting ship tours for students.
He says the crew will also conduct subject matter exchanges with the Fiji Maritime Surveillance Rescue Coordination Centre, sharing best practices in search and rescue, maritime surveillance and maritime awareness to strengthen the collective capacity to respond to threats affecting Fiji's sovereignty.
Baladad says the bilateral patrol forms part of a broader year-round partnership between Fiji and the United States that includes maritime domain awareness initiatives, capacity building, joint targeting efforts and operational support.
He says Fiji and the United States have also partnered on the construction of a boat ramp used to launch and recover small boats, while training is currently underway using small boats delivered about a month ago.
