The Chief of Army of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Simon Stuart, and the Chief of Army of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), Major General (Maj Gen) Rose King, conducted a joint official visit to the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) from Tuesday, 10 June, to Wednesday, 11 June, 2025.

During their visit, both army chiefs paid a joint courtesy call to the Commander RFMF, Maj Gen Jone Kalouniwai, at the Strategic Headquarters in Berkeley Crescent, Suva.

Upon arrival, Lt Gen Stuart and Maj Gen King were accorded a quarter guard welcome before proceeding with official discussions focused on strengthening defence cooperation among the three militaries. Later they also received an operational briefing from Director of Force Development Colonel Aseri Rokoura.

The program continued with a visit to Queen Elizabeth Barracks (QEB) in Nabua, where Lt Gen Stuart and Maj Gen King met with Commander Land Forces, Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Onisivoro Covunisaqa, and toured various land force units under land force command.

This visit marked Maj Gen King’s first official visit to Fiji since her appointment as New Zealand’s Chief of Army. In recognition of the occasion, she was accorded a traditional sevusevu ceremony at the QEB Officers’ Mess.

The joint visit forms part of broader regional efforts by the ADF, NZDF, and RFMF to strengthen defence ties and foster closer collaboration on shared strategic priorities in the Pacific.