US Starts Talks on Deal To Ramp Up Troop Deployments to Fiji

The US and Fiji have begun talks on a military pact meant to ramp up US troop deployments to the Pacific island nation as part of the US’s buildup in the region that’s aimed at China.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the plans to negotiate a Status of Forces Agreement while visiting Fiji on Saturday. “The SOFA will enable us to deploy and redeploy forces in support of Fiji and help us train with the Fijians on a very routine basis. I look forward to routine rotations, training rotations — where possible — to be conducted,” Austin said.

Austin insisted the idea of establishing “permanent” US bases was not being discussed, although the US has a constant military presence in many countries where it technically doesn’t have a permanent presence.