00:00And I'm very proud to be the first U.S. Secretary of Defense to ever visit Fiji.
00:06It's an honor to be here. Our relationship is rooted in common values
00:12and our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
00:17You know, the Indo-Pacific is our priority theater, and strengthening our partnerships
00:24with Fiji and other Pacific Island countries is vital to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
00:31In our meeting today, we discussed the security environment and Fiji's role as a regional leader.
00:39We discussed how we're deepening our bilateral cooperation.
00:43This includes a new acquisition and cross-servicing agreement,
00:48and I'll sign that agreement with the Ministry for Home Affairs and Immigration later today.
00:55This agreement will mean closer ties, closer logistics cooperation between our forces,
01:00including for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
01:05We're also announcing the start of negotiations on a Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA.
01:11Once complete, the SOFA will expand our bilateral defense cooperation through
01:16increased exercises and military-to-military engagements.
01:21We also covered the new security assistance that the United States is providing to Fiji,
01:28including $4.9 million in foreign military financing pending congressional approval.
01:35And finally, we discussed the unique and varied security challenges in the Pacific Islands region.
01:42Maritime security is essential, so I'm pleased that our first delivery of rigid-hull inflatable
01:49boats will arrive in the next several months. And soon after, we'll deliver a new boat ramp
01:56to support maritime patrols like maritime patrols of your waters.
02:01And we'll continue expanding our exercises and engagement together, including through
02:07the annual cartwheel exercise and through your close partnership with the Nevada National Guard.
02:13I'm sure you will agree that today marks a historic moment in the United States-Fiji
02:22security relationship, with its first ever visit by a United States Secretary of Defense
02:33to Fiji. And Fiji and the United States have a longstanding bilateral
02:39defense and security relationship. So it's been my privilege and my honor to welcome
02:48the United States Secretary of Defense to this part of the world.
02:54Fiji has benefited greatly from the U.S.-Fiji defense relationship through many programs
03:00and joining and joint collaborations that has enabled us to protect our borders
03:06and marine resources and has assisted us in tackling transnational crimes.
03:15Today, indeed, marks another milestone in the Fiji-United States relationship,
03:21and we look forward to continued efforts to strengthen collaboration.
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