A political party leader in Fiji says the government of Frank Bainimarama risks upsetting the United States by linking up with California Governor Jerry Brown.
Mr Brown, who is strongly opposed to the Donald Trump view on climate change, has been made a Special Advisor of the COP23 climate change summit by Mr Bainimarama.
Fiji is the co-host of the Bonn meeting in November and Mr Brown's role is to rally support for the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka Photo: AFP PHOTO / Torsten BLACKWOOD
SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka said Mr Bainimarama had naively allowed himself to be drawn into American domestic politics and Fiji could suffer for it.
He said Mr Brown's appointment could undermine Fiji's role as a United Nations peacekeeper.
"I think he was singled out because of his directly opposing views towards President Trump's views on climate change, and because of that it could be embarrassing for Fiji in our role as a troop contributor," Mr Rabuka said.
