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Fiji Peacekeeping Missions

Service in the UN forces in the Middle East, for which the RFMF soldiers received about triple the salary offered at home, was especially attractive. Durign the 1980s the RFMF trained about 600 new soldiers each year for rotating service in the UN forces. The government, however, had trouble collecting payments for its military services from the UN, and the political opposition advocated pulling out of the forces altogether.

• 1978–2004 - Peacekeeping Mission with United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Lebanon. Deployment of first battalion was led by LTCOL E. Nailatikau former president of Fiji
• 1979 - Fiji Observer Group for Africa (FOGA) the transitional force was led by Major A. Soqosoqo Mission completed after three months
• 1982 - A Battalion was deployed to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt for peacekeeping mission with the Multinational Force & Observers. The first battalion was led by LTCOL Jim Sanday
• 1988 - RFMF officers invited and deployed as observers in war torn Afghanistan. Mission completed in 1993
• 1991 - RFMF officers were invited by UN as observers following Operations Desert Storm led by US Forces in Iraq
• 1992 – 1993 - RFMF officers were invited as observers with UNISOM in Somalia
• 1994 - A coalition of Pacific Island Forces was invited to intervene on revolution warfare in Bougainville. The mission was codenamed Operation Blue Lagoon. The mission was sponsored by the Australian Government and was led by LTCOL S. Draunidalo
• 2000–2005 - A company strength was deployed to East Timor to serve on a peacekeeping mission codenamed the International Force East Timor (INTERFET) which was sponsored by the Australian Government. The United Nations later took over the mission which was codenamed the United Nations Transition Assistance East Timor. The first deployment was led by Commander (Navy) L. Natuva.
• 2003 - A company strength was deployed to the Solomon Islands to serve on regional mission with the Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands (RAMSI)
• 2004 - RFMF was invited by United Nations to observe and secure UN positions, installations and personnel in Iraq under the Unaited Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). The first deployment was led by LTCOL Saubulinayau
• 2013 - RFMF deployed a battalion strength of peacekeepers to serve in Syria (Golan Heights) following the withdrawal of the Austrian Defence Force from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). Later a company plus strength of Fijibatt personnel were re-deployed to UNIFIL to furnish the needs of the United Nations on that mission.

Fiji’s key role in international peacekeeping matters has been amplified through the policy of ‘Friends to all and foe to none’. The abduction of 45 Fijian peacekeepers serving in the Golan Heights in Syria in August 2014 highlighted the severe challenges that Fiji and other troop contributing countries face in global peacekeeping efforts. Those challenges only served to strengthen resolve towards fulfilling Fiji’s peacekeeping obligations in the international arena. The successful negotiations that ensured the safe release of the peacekeepers fortified Fiji's belief and investment in enhanced relations with key strategic partners both within and outside the region. Peacekeeping remains an area of focus.