August 31, 2026
VICTORIA, British Columbia — OCJCS Spokesperson Joe Holstead provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine met with military leaders from Fiji, Tonga, Australia, and New Zealand on Aug. 31 during the Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The engagement marked Gen. Caine’s first meetings with Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander Maj. Gen. Ro Jone Kalouniwai and Tonga Chief of Defence Staff, His Majesty’s Armed Forces Brig. Lord Fielakepa.
The leaders discussed Pacific priorities, regional resilience, maritime security, and crisis response, emphasizing a Pacific-led approach and practical cooperation that strengthens the ability of regional partners to respond together to shared challenges.