SUVA – Russian soldiers are currently in Fiji instructing Republic of Fiji Military Forces officers in the use and maintenance of the Russian-made weapons.

Moscow and Suva say the arms are intended to help Fiji troops to carry out United Nations peacekeeping duties in the Middle East.

However, there are fears that its military assistance may herald plans for further involvement in the South Pacific.

New Zealand’s foreign minister, Murray McCully, is also visiting Fiji and says New Zealand wants to strengthen bi-lateral defence ties.

Fiji media report him having held talks with various government ministers, with McCully saying New Zealand was keen to progress defence co-operation.

FBC News said McCully spoke of the opportunity for the countries’ militaries to co-operate during disaster relief operations.

It also quoted him saying 20 personnel from the disciplined forces would travel to New Zealand in coming months, but there were no other details.

McCully’s visit comes as Fiji took ownership of the first of number of arms consignments shipped from Russia.

RFMF acting Commander, Commodore Viliame Naupoto, reiterated to the Fiji Times that the weapons would be used by peacekeepers deployed to Golan Heights and Sinai.

Fiji’s relationship with both Russia and China has warmed up in recent times.

Under a “Look North” policy introduced by Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, China has become heavily involved in Fiji, building infrastructure across the former British colony and has stationed its 21,000-tonne satellite tracking ship, Yuanwang 6, in Suva, Fiji’s capital.

On January 14 two ships from Russia carrying 27 containers of Russian-made weaponry arrived in Suva unannounced.

Ten instructors sent by Russia’s armed forces arrived on February 9 – and this week the weapons were officially handed over by Russia’s ambassador to Fiji, Vladimir Morozov.

Morozov told local media that both Fiji and Russia had a common goal of building a “just and secure world” and were working constructively together in the international arena.

Morozov said the arms had been supplied on a non-repayable basis following an agreement reached between the Russian Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Bainimarama in Moscow in 2013.

Defence Minister, Timoci Natuva revealed in Parliament last week, which the shipment of aid arms from Russia was worth F$19 million (NZ$8.8 million).

A Russian foreign ministry spokesperson said on January 29 that the equipment was intended for Fijian soldiers serving in the UN Disengagement Observer Force in the Golan Heights between Syria and Israel.

Fiji has about 1000 peacekeepers serving around the world.

Maria Zakharova said Russia would be “further expanding multidimensional cooperation, including through military supplies, with Fiji and other countries in the South Pacific.”

She said that the speculation about Moscow’s motives was another example of how conspiracy theorists missed a shot with claims of a “Russian trail” in the South Pacific.

Fiji Defence Minister Timoci Natuva told the Fiji Times that the government was negotiating for a second shipment of arms and ammunition to replace its South Korean K2 and US M16 rifles.

“This is like the spinoff for our peacekeeping,” Natuva said.

- PNC