Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, who is on a three-day visit to India, conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that somebody is "not
very happy with you." Rabuka's remarks comes against the backdrop of the US imposing a 50 per cent tariff on India goods. PM Narendra Modi held talks with Fijian counterpart Rabuka on Monday. The talks focused on shoring up bilateral ties in areas such as trade and investment, according to sources. Rabuka shared details of his conversation with PM Modi during an interaction with the audience after delivering a lecture on 'Ocean of Peace' at the Sapru House here, hosted by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA). According to him, he told the Indian Prime Minister that somebody is "not happy with you", adding "you are big enough to weather those discomforts." "A lot of people, big leaders of big nations have... and that's why I brought this concept of the 'family', and the youngest or the smallest member of the family not comfortable, and everybody sits up and listen," Rabuka said. Because, whatever is "happening out there, is impacting us", the Fijian leader said. "Now, what is happening out there is impacting your relationship with the United States. The recent announcements of tariffs and some things that are coming towards Prime Minister Modi's direction... I told him the other day, somebody is not very happy with you, but then you are big enough to weather those discomforts," he said, without elaborating. He said that during the Monday meeting, "Prime Minister Modi echoed our sentiments and the concept." He said that he didn't have any personal interaction with the US President, and had asked for a bilateral with the Russian President. Fiji, a nation the South Pacific, is important for India in the sphere of maritime security and the two countries have a strong cultural and people-to-people ties. Notably, India's links with Fiji began in 1879 when Indian labourers were taken to Fiji under the indenture system by the British. India and Fiji on Monday firmed up an action plan to boost defence ties and agreed to jointly work for a peaceful and inclusive Indo-Pacific as Modi and Rabuka held talks to expand the overall bilateral cooperation. In his address, he emphasised on the multiple pillars of this vision. "In this effort, India is an important partner... Fiji and India can work together to ensure that the vision of the Pacific as an 'Ocean of Peace', becomes a reality not only for our region, but as a contribution to global peace and stability," the Fijian PM said. (With PTI Inputs)
