Fiji Gets Russian Arms Delivery:

The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) took delivery last month of at least 20 shipping containers containing Russian military equipment believed to be 'small arms and munitions'.

Fijian Minister of Defence Timoci Natuva says the deal was signed back in 2013.

- Todays NZ media are reporting the landing of twenty Russian training instructors in Fiji from a Korean Airlines plane.

The Arms Convoy In Transit to Queen Elizabeth Barracks Delainaba

 

This shipment said to be worth $41.8 million may contain Kalashnikov AK101 type rifles in NATO 5.56x45mm calibre.

 

Kalashnikov AK101 /102.

 

Fijis small military consists of 3,500 active forces plus 6,000 reservists and is active within the UN Peacekeeping Forces - and keeps two Battalions deployed under UN Command in the Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Sinai, and East Timor - with a third battalion based in Fijis Capital Suva. A further three battalions are spread through their islands.

Back in 1987 when there was a military led coup in Fiji - there was speculation that the then NZ Prime Minister David Lange had wanted to send NZDF in to restore order - and had been advised strongly that such action would have been ill advised and that an invading NZ force would have had its ass badly kicked by the well trained and experienced RFMF.

Fiji is an archipelago of more than 332 islands - some 110 permanently inhabited. - Fiji has a well developed economy based on tourism, sugar cane, forestry, minerals and fisheries. - Funding payments received from the UN are also considerable.

Marty K.