Two months ago, on February 3, a bit of diplomatic history was made when Jesoni Vitusagavulu presented his credentials to President Isaac Herzog, making him Fiji’s first-ever resident ambassador to Israel. The South Pacific nation, an archipelago consisting of more than 300 islands, has long been one of Israel’s strongest supporters. Indeed, in September of last year, Fiji opened its embassy in Jerusalem, one of just a handful of countries to have done so thus far.
Ambassador Vitusagavulu, an experienced and highly respected Fijian diplomat who previously represented his nation in Washington, is no stranger to the Jewish state, as he was a student here and received a diploma in airline management from Bar-Ilan University. He is a former chief executive of the Fiji Trade and Investment Bureau, now known as Investment Fiji, and he also held senior management positions at the Fiji Development Bank and Air Pacific (now Fiji Airways).
In an interview with the Magazine, the ambassador explained the strategic as well as spiritual reasons behind Fiji’s support for Israel, expressed his views on the Iran war, and described how his country hopes to further deepen its partnership with the Jewish state in a variety of fields.
Fiji recently opened its embassy in Jerusalem, not Tel Aviv. At a time when many nations hesitate to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, why did Fiji make this decision, and how has it affected bilateral relations?
Opening our embassy in Jerusalem was a sovereign decision made in Fiji’s best national interest. We are focused on revitalizing our agricultural industry and tackling security and climate challenges through Israeli innovation and technology. But it is also about reciprocity and loyalty. Fiji has chosen to stand with Israel at a time when it faces isolation, just as Israel stood by us in the past when we navigated our own challenges. I’d say that our affinity with Israel is pure and not based on some cold political calculus. We respect the decisions other nations make in their interest, and we expect the same respect in return.
Many Israelis are familiar with Fiji because your country often bucks the trend and votes against anti-Israel resolutions at the United Nations. What guides Fiji’s approach?
Fiji votes at the United Nations on principle. We’ve consistently been one of the few nations to stand up against one-sided, anti-Israel resolutions. We don’t just follow the crowd; we evaluate every measure on its merits. For us, it’s about fairness and sovereign equality. We believe that isolating Israel through lopsided resolutions is counterproductive to peace, and we choose instead to be a consistent voice for balanced dialogue.
Fiji is a deeply Christian nation, and I have met many Fijians who express a strong spiritual connection to the Jewish people and the Land of Israel. To what extent does faith shape Fiji’s foreign policy toward Israel?
While Fiji is a secular state, our affinity for Israel is deeply rooted in our history, predating our 1970 diplomatic ties. It began in 1835 when Christian missionaries came to our shores. That message transformed the souls of our people – taking us from what was once a barbaric society to being the friendliest people in the world. Pope John Paul II famously described Fiji as ‘the way the world should be.’ That spiritual transformation created a permanent bond with the people and the Land of Israel. Today, that foundation of faith provides the heart of a relationship that is now also driven by modern strategic cooperation.
Following Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, how did Fiji assess what happened, and what message did your government seek to send in its response?
Fiji unequivocally condemned the horrific attacks of Oct. 7. No cause justifies that kind of terror, and we stand by Israel’s right to protect its citizens. At the same time, our hearts bleed for the plight of Palestinians caught in this conflict. We pray their leaders will make the difficult decisions necessary to avoid the kind of backlash and suffering their people have endured. Our hope is for a future where both peoples can live in security and dignity.
Fiji has a long history of contributing troops to UN peacekeeping missions. Why does Fiji attach so much importance to these efforts, and how does Fiji’s experience in global peace operations shape how it views Israel’s security challenges?
Fiji believes that global security is a shared responsibility. We have backed this belief with action since 1978, when we first joined UNIFIL to help secure Israel and the wider region. Our commitment remains unbroken; we continue that work today with UNDOF in the Golan Heights and the MFO in the Sinai. We were also active with UNAMI in Iraq until recently. To continue our commitment to peace, we are currently considering participation in the International Stabilization Force [ISF] in Gaza, as we believe stable borders are the foundation of a peaceful world.
How does Fiji view the Abraham Accords and the broader regional shifts in the Middle East? Do you believe they create new opportunities for smaller nations like Fiji to deepen ties with Israel?
Fiji thinks highly of the Abraham Accords. These agreements represent a fundamental shift from ideological rejection to peaceful coexistence. What these nations have done is to forsake belligerence for progress. It is very much akin to Fiji’s own history. When the gospel reached our shores, we forsook tribal warfare and learned to live peacefully with each other. We see the accords as a regional mirror of our own transformation, proving that peace is possible when you choose the future over the past.
Fiji maintains diplomatic relations with many countries that are critical of Israel. How does Fiji balance those relationships while maintaining its strong support for the Jewish state?
We are ‘friends to all.’ Fiji is transparent about its values, so our partners know exactly where we stand. Supporting Israel doesn’t mean we’re ‘against’ anyone else. And as our prime minister said, ‘It’s not a blanket endorsement of another country’s policies.’ We believe that by keeping our doors open to everyone, Fiji can act as a moderate, honest voice for engagement in a very polarized world.
Israel is known for its expertise in technology, security, and counterterrorism. Are there areas in which Fiji and Israel are currently cooperating – or could cooperate more closely – in these fields?
Technology is a key reason we are deepening our ties with the Israelis. We want to learn from them about how to leverage technology to overcome the constraints associated with smallness. Israel is the proof that smallness and a narrow resource base need not be an impediment to growth. We need to embrace technology more across all our industries – particularly agriculture, which is the mainstay of our economy. Technological solutions from Israel can also help us combat our most pressing security problems, such as the drug trade, climate change, and cybersecurity. We’ve signed agreements in these areas with them, and our task at the embassy is to work with them to implement the agreements.
As a Pacific island nation, Fiji faces challenges such as rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and flooding. Israel is a global leader in water management agriculture innovation. Where do you see the greatest potential for cooperation, and what additional partnerships would you like to see?
This is where the partnership gets really exciting. Israel has a history of making the deserts bloom and transforming sand dunes into world-class cities. We want to apply that same spirit to Fiji. We are moving toward food security, bringing Israeli desalination technology to our maritime provinces, and looking at construction technology to secure our homes from the increasingly strong hurricanes. We are looking to build a resilient, hi-tech future for our people.
The Pacific has become an arena of growing geopolitical competition, particularly involving China. How does Fiji balance its regional realities while strengthening ties with the West?
Regarding the geopolitical competition in the Pacific, Fiji balances regional realities by staying focused on our own national development. We do not see our relationships as a zero-sum game. However, we are clear about our shared values with the West – our commitment to democracy and a rules-based order. Strengthening ties with Israel is a natural extension of those values. We favor partners who respect our sovereignty and help us address critical threats like climate change, rather than those who wish to draw us into power struggles.
Beyond government-to-government relations, how strong are the connections between the Fijian and Israeli peoples? Do you see potential for expansion in areas such as trade and investment?
The bond between our peoples is our greatest asset. There is already a strong connection, evidenced by the consistent flow of Fijians traveling to Israel, mostly for the Feast of Tabernacles organized by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem. We want to build on that by encouraging two-way tourist flows, exploring charter flights initially to bridge the distance. Tourism is the front door to deeper engagement; as people move, trade and investment will naturally follow. We want to see Israeli ‘know-how meet the Fijian ‘can-do’ spirit, creating a partnership that benefits the private sectors of both nations.
Looking ahead five to 10 years, what concrete achievements would you like to see in the relationship between Fiji and Israel?
We are currently developing our business plan, and our strategic goal is to move from diplomatic cooperation to measurable economic impact. We want to show clear evidence of Israel’s impact on Fiji’s economy through the successful operation of signature projects in agriculture, dairy, and other key industries. In a decade, we envision Fiji to be the innovation hub of the Pacific, where Israeli know-how and the Fijian can-do spirit have transformed our nation into a ‘start-up nation of the South Seas.’
On a personal level, what has surprised you most about Israel – politically, culturally, or diplomatically – and what do you think Israelis misunderstand about Fiji?
I’m not surprised by what I see as a person visiting Israel for the first time would. I had the privilege of studying airline management in Israel many years ago with an Israeli scholarship, where I observed firsthand the rapid, relentless progress this country has made in such a short time. Even then, I said that Israel is a classroom with so much to learn. I’m honored to be appointed Fiji’s first resident ambassador. I’m glad to be back – to learn more deeply and, more importantly, to ensure that Fiji benefits from the success and the ‘classroom’ of innovation that Israel has built.
What is Fiji’s position on the war with Iran? Does your country agree that Iran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons?
Fiji’s position is clear: We fully recognize Israel’s fundamental right to self-defense and its necessity to protect its people from the existential threats posed by Iran and its proxies. No nation should be expected to live under the constant threat of annihilation. At the same time, we are a nation of peace, and we are naturally concerned by the loss of lives, the destruction of properties, and the growing threat this conflict poses to the world economy. The stability of the Middle East is linked to the stability of the world. We pray that this conflict will end soon and that a path to lasting security can be found, but that security must begin with the recognition of Israel’s right to exist in peace.
How has the experience of being in Israel during wartime affected you and your views of the country?
Living through this period has been a profound and sobering experience. I am now experiencing for myself what the people of Israel have endured for a very long time. It is a far cry from the peace and tranquility that we often take for granted in Fiji and the wider Pacific. When you hear the sirens and feel the tension firsthand, you cannot help but deeply empathize with the people here. This experience has not deterred me; rather, it has made me more determined to contribute in whatever small way I can to the search for a path to lasting peace in this region. It reinforces why Fiji’s role as a peacekeeper is so vital – because we know the value of the peace that is so desperately sought here.