Fiji-Vanuatu progress Maritime Boundary Delimitation work

Fiji and Vanuatu convened a Senior Officials Meeting from 4th to 5th September 2025 in Port Vila, Vanuatu to progress discussions on the delimitation of maritime boundary between the two partners.

The discussions reconvened after a high-level bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Honourable Jotham Napat and the Prime Minister Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka during the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders Summit in June of this year.

The two countries have been negotiating their maritime boundaries since 2012, with the most recent discussions taking place in Suva, in 2019.

The Fiji delegation, headed by the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Raijeli Taga with the Maritime Affairs Coordinating Committee Technical Officials from the Ministry of Lands & Mineral Resources, Solicitor General’s Office and the Republic of Fiji Navy aimed to foster a mutual understanding amongst both countries on the progress and status of their respective maritime border delimitation work and a plan of work for the coming months.

Fiji shares it borders with New Caledonia, Wallis & Futuna, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu and remains committed to completing its outstanding boundary delimitation works.

Finalizing our maritime boundaries will provide certainty and stability allowing States to exercise their jurisdiction and sovereign rights over their ocean resources such as that of fisheries, minerals and marine generic resources. Clearly defining boundaries will ensure the preservation of our maritime boundaries in the face of climate change and sea-level rise.

In the spirit of Pacific regionalism and our shared Melanesian heritage, bilateral talks ended successfully with both countries reaffirming their commitment to finalizing and concluding maritime boundary delimitation work through the signing of an agreed outcomes document developed through mutual understanding, respect and diplomatic exchange – in the true Pacific way.