The 14 Bushmasters Protected Mobility Vehicles handed over to the Fiji Military Force by the Australian Government will help to ensure the safety of our peacekeepers and enable them to continue their valuable contributions to world peace.
The Cabinet had approved the execution of a Memorandum of Sale with the Australian Government for the acquisition of 14 bushmasters last month.
According to the Australian Defence Force website, while the value of the 14 deal has not been disclosed, the 2023-Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook notes that ADF expects to receive $4.14 million in revenue associated with the sale over 2024-2025.
While speaking during the handover at Blackrock Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Camp in Nadi, Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka says the Vuvale Partnership between Australia and Fiji are working together to elevate the shared commitment to tackling climate change and strengthening our economic and trade partnership.
Rabuka says this is a significant strength that endures robust relations in defence and security between the two nations and also recognizes respect for each country.
He says peace and security are fundamental for sustainable development and Fiji will continue to uphold global peace and security as we have done for the last four and a half decades.
He says this will ensure Fiji is ready for international and regional peacekeeping missions now and in the future.
He adds the Bushmasters will support peacekeeping training for our security forces and can be utilised for international and regional peacekeeping missions.
The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of dealing with the severe effects of climate change and shared that it will continue to impact the Pacific national and regional security, in complex ways.
Rabuka also highlighted that the Pacific should work together as a region to find avenues for collective action such as these.
