Relations were strained, due to France's condemnation of the coup d'état in Fiji in December 2006.

Previously, relations had primarily been centred on military cooperation, with France assisting Fiji in surveilling its maritime zone, and on development aid.

[citation needed] Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1970.

In 2000, the French Government condemned the 2000 Fijian coup d'état.

[2] In 2004, France was the first foreign state to offer assistance to Fiji, sending naval aircraft from the nearby islands of New Caledonia taking part in efforts to locate several fishermen lost at sea.