The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) is expanding its capabilities in maritime security and sustainability through strategic engagement with the Indian Ocean Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) platform. A Fijian delegation, led by Deputy Commander Commodore Humphrey Tawake, attended the 3rd High-Level IORIS Steering Committee Meeting in Cebu, Philippines from 20–24 May.

IORIS, funded by the European Union, is a secure digital platform that enables real-time coordination and information sharing among national, regional, and international maritime agencies. It supports incident monitoring, communication, and collaborative response to threats such as illegal fishing, maritime accidents, smuggling, and environmental emergencies.

Fiji has been using IORIS for the past five years as a core communication tool between the Navy, Fiji Police, Fisheries Department, and regional partners such as the Information Fusion Centre in Singapore.

Commodore Tawake noted that Fiji’s participation aligns with RFMF’s strategic priorities and strengthens Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), complementing both the National Security Strategy and the forthcoming Maritime Security Strategy.

“The IORIS platform allows us to coordinate not only maritime security operations but also responses to humanitarian disasters, oil spills, search and rescue efforts, and interagency collaboration,” said Commodore Tawake.

The meeting also launched IORIS Version 4, incorporating improvements based on lessons learned from earlier deployments. The upgraded platform is now used by more than 50 nations and over 200 maritime agencies across the Indo-Pacific region.

Beyond security, Fiji sees broader applications for IORIS in supporting environmental protection, port management, and community-level response coordination.