News

Fiji-US relations remain strong

November 1, 2015 6:31 pm

Fiji and the US share very close relations and it remains strong.

Speaking on FBC TV’s 4 The Record show last night, US Ambassador to Fiji Judith Cefkin says the two countries have always maintained full diplomatic relations in the past years.

She says the two countries did not have any break in their diplomatic relations.

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However, Cefkin adds that before the 2014 election, the US had restrictions on certain forms of assistance.

Despite this, the US still maintained many programs throughout the years leading up to the elections.

“Our peace corp. program was here, we worked with civil society groups, we did some media training before that time, we did our environmental programs but what was restricted was the direct assistance to the government of Fiji and now that restriction has been lifted.”

Cefkin says one of the things they’ve seen is a growth in the security cooperation between the two countries.

She adds they have also resumed their offer of training to the members of the RFMF for training in the states, among others.

Fiji and the US have had formal diplomatic relations for 44 years.