It's puzzling that any country purporting to be a friend to Fiji would try to publicly undermine Fiji’s bilateral relationship with one of its partners.
U.S. Ambassador to Fiji Marie Damour highlighted this in a response to the Chinese Embassy’s statement calling out the U.S on their tariff war and that Fiji should partner more with China.
Damour says that is not who the United States is, or the kind of partner they strive to be.
She says implying that Fiji is incapable of steering its own foreign policy not only insults the country's leadership, but also disrespects its people.
The Ambassador says Fijians are perfectly capable of handling their own affairs without such "advice."
She says Fiji and the United States enjoy a longstanding relationship built on shared values of faith, mutual respect, and openness.
Damour adds no country especially the ones that do not share those same values should attempt to interfere with that relationship, as these cheap shots will fail.
