This article covers how India's diplomatic presence in Fiji began, the visits and meetings of leaders and ministers of the two countries, the FIPIC summits and Fiji's place in the international groupings the brief names. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of June 2026, with dates and titles as the brief gives them.
Basis of the relationship
According to the MEA brief of June 2026, India-Fiji relations are based on mutual respect, cooperation and strong cultural and people-to-people ties. India has had a diplomatic post in Fiji since 1948, which became a High Commission after Fiji's independence in 1970.
The brief records that high-level visits began after Fiji's independence. They included the visits of PM Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to India in 1971 and of PM Indira Gandhi to Fiji in 1981.
Visits since 2014
Prime Minister Modi in Fiji, November 2014. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Fiji on 19 Nov 2014. The visit also marked the convening of the First FIPIC Summit. Three MoUs were signed with Fiji, on a co-generation plant (LOC support), diplomatic training, and allocation of land for diplomatic missions.
Prime Minister Bainimarama in India, March 2018. PM Bainimarama visited India and participated in the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance held in New Delhi on 11 Mar 2018.
External Affairs Minister in Fiji, February 2023. EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Fiji from 14-17 Feb 2023 to attend the 12th World Hindi Conference in Nadi. In Suva, he signed a Visa Waiver Agreement, launched the India-UN Development Partnership Fund Solarisation project at the State House, inaugurated the renovated Girmit Gallery, unveiled a bust of Sardar Patel at India House, and engaged with the Indian diaspora.
President Murmu in Fiji, September 2024. At the invitation of Fijian President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere, President Smt. Droupadi Murmu paid a two-day State visit to Fiji from 5-7 Sept 2024. The brief records this as the first-ever visit by an Indian Head of State to Fiji. She was accompanied by Minister of State for Minority Affairs Shri George Kurian and Lok Sabha MPs Shri Saumitra Khan and Shri Jugal Kishore.
On arrival in Suva, the President was accorded a 100-Men Guard of Honor by the Republic of Fiji Military Force (RFMF). She held meetings with the President and Prime Minister of Fiji and addressed Fiji's Parliament. She also visited the National War Memorial, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial School and the Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple, and met members of the Indian diaspora.
Meeting in Munich, February 2025. EAM Dr. S Jaishankar met Fiji PM Sitiveni Rabuka on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on 15 Feb 2025.
Minister of State in Fiji, May 2025. Shri Pabitra Margherita, Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, paid a three-day official visit to Fiji from 10-12 May 2025. He paid courtesy calls on President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, and had a separate meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad. He visited the BlackRock Camp (Joint Task Force Command), the Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple in Nadi and the site of the 100 bedded Super Specialty Hospital in Suva. The brief states that an MoU on Fiji's recognition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia was also signed during the visit.
Prime Minister Rabuka in India, August 2025. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka visited India from 24-26 August 2025 on his first official visit. He and PM Modi held delegation level talks at Hyderabad House and witnessed the exchange of 8 bilateral documents/MoUs. PM Rabuka made a courtesy call on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhawan, and his delegation met Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mr. Jagat Prakash Nadda.
The delegation also visited the UIDAI headquarters, the Jan Aushadi Kendra at AIIMS, Apollo Hospital and the National Defence College. PM Rabuka delivered a speech on "Ocean of Peace" at the Indian Council of World Affairs.
President Lalabalavu in India, November 2025. Fijian President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu visited India from 9 to 24 November 2025 and was hosted by Madhusudhan Sai at Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli. He joined the 100th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, toured the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital and visited a new 600-bed free multi-specialty hospital.
FIPIC summits
FIPIC was inaugurated by PM Modi during his visit to Fiji on 19 Nov 2014, with the participation of 14 Pacific Island Countries. At its launch, India announced development assistance initiatives in fields including climate change, trade, economy, tele-medicine and tele-education, IT, grants for community development projects and human resource development.
India organised the 2nd FIPIC Summit at Jaipur on 21 Aug 2015, hosted by PM Narendra Modi. The Fijian delegation was led by PM Josaia Vorenqe Bainimarama.
The 3rd Summit was held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 22 May 2023, co-chaired by PM Narendra Modi and PNG PM James Marape. The Fijian delegation was led by PM Sitiveni Rabuka, and the brief records this as the first meeting between the two Prime Ministers. On behalf of Fijian President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere, PM Rabuka bestowed on PM Modi the highest honour of Fiji, the Companion of the Order of Fiji (CF).
Other regional engagement
On 24 Sept 2019, on the sidelines of the 74th UNGA, PM Narendra Modi met leaders of the Pacific Islands Developing States (PSIDS) in New York. India organised the India-Pacific Islands Sustainable Development Conference (IPI-SDC) in Suva on 25-26 May 2017, hosted by MoS Gen. (Dr.) V.K. Singh (Retd).
International groupings
According to the brief, Fiji is a Founding Member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and a member of the Global Biofuel Alliance (Nov 2024). On 22 August 2025, Fiji expressed its intention to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).