Press Releases
Handover Ceremony of OSA (Official Security Assistance) FY2023 Project for the Republic of Fiji
On May 26, 2025, at the Stanley Brown Naval Base located in Suva, the capital of the Republic of Fiji, the Handover Ceremony for OSA (Official Security Assistance) was held, with the attendance of Mr. TAKADA Isami, Chargé d’Affairs ad interim of Japan to the Republic of Fiji, Captain Timoci Natuva, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Naval Division and Mr. Mason Smith, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs of the Republic of Fiji, Mr. INOUE Shunichi, Director of Security Cooperation Division, Foreign Policy Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Colonel MORI Yuichi, Liaison to PACAF A5I, Koku-Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) attended the ceremony.
- In the ceremony, the first batch of the monitoring and surveillance equipment provided by the Government of Japan through OSA FY2023 project to Fiji were handed over to the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Naval Division: inflatable rescue boat and other related equipment which had already arrived from Japan to Suva. This is the first delivery of OSA projects since the establishment of OSA in 2023.
- The OSA project is expected to strengthen capacities of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Naval Division for monitoring and surveillance as well as disaster relief, and to contribute to secure Free and Open Indo-Pacific through maintenance and enhancement of maritime security in the seas around Fiji and Indo-Pacific region.
- At the ceremony, the Fijian side expressed their gratitude for the provision of equipment through OSA, expecting the deepening of security cooperation with Japan based on the OSA project. The Japanese side stated that it was significant to hold the first handover ceremony for OSA in Fiji, as the country is the key for the security in the South Pacific island countries region, and they hoped that this assistance would strengthen the security cooperation between Fiji and Japan.
(Reference)
OSA (Official Security Assistance) is a grant aid cooperation framework which provides equipment and supplies as well as assistance for the development of infrastructures to armed forces and other related organizations of recipient countries. By enhancing their security and deterrence capabilities, OSA aims to strengthen the security cooperation with the recipient countries, to create a desirable security environment for Japan, and to contribute to maintaining and strengthening international peace and security.