Latest news with #DefenceCooperationArrangement
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Working closely with India on defence, security issues: New Zealand Deputy PM
In the current era of 'great uncertainty', New Zealand has started working 'more closely' with India in the fields of defence and security, said Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand in New Delhi on Friday (May 30, 2025). Speaking at an event, Mr. Peters gave an overview of his country's foreign policy, and said that freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region is 'crucial' for New Zealand. Editorial | Navigating differences: On India-New Zealand ties 'During a time of great uncertainty, instability and disorder, we have taken steps to work more closely on matters of defence and security with India. A recently signed Defence Cooperation Arrangement will facilitate closer links between our militaries,' Mr. Peters said, speaking at a fireside chat organised by the Ananta Aspen Centre. Security cooperation Mr. Peters, who was among the global leaders who had joined India in condoling the loss of lives in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, said that security cooperation between the two sides is increasing. 'The New Zealand Navy is leading Combined Task Force 150, charged with securing trade routes and countering terrorism, smuggling, and piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden,' he added. To deal with the uncertain and unpredictable conditions in the fields of security and economy, New Zealand has 'reset' its foreign policy and is 'significantly increasing' its 'focus and resources' on south and southeast Asia, Mr. Peters said. Describing India as a 'geopolitical giant', he said that India has emerged as an 'indispensable security actor in both regional and global spheres. In the prevailing international circumstances, he argued in favour of giving space to diplomacy saying, 'We need more diplomacy, more engagement, more compromise.' 'Small states matter' 'Since war and instability is everyone's calamity, diplomacy is the business of us all. We have observed that at this moment in time the ability to talk with, rather than at, each other has never been more needed,' Mr. Peters said, arguing in favour of safeguarding rights of countries like New Zealand that he described as a 'small state'. He described New Zealand's foreign policy reset as the outcome of three pillars: the realism of the New Zealand government's foreign policy, importance of diplomacy in the troubled world, and New Zealand's 'unshakeable belief that small states matter and that all states are equal.' Freedom of navigation Mr Peters, who held an official-level meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday (May 29, 2025), described the maritime interests of his country unambiguously and said New Zealand is 'self-evidently' a maritime nation that regards freedom of navigation as 'crucial' both for itself and for India. Mr. Peters is the second high-level leader from New Zealand to visit India in three months. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visited India during March 16-20, when the two sides announced the launch of a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (CFTA). Deputy Foreign Minister Peters described the launch of FTA negotiations as a 'breakthrough' in bilateral India-New Zealand economic relations. Mr Peters also met with the Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and discussed 'democratic systems and recent developments in both countries'.
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
NZ, Philippines To Sign Military Agreement
Press Release – New Zealand Government Ms Collins will travel to the Philippines today to sign the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, which highlights the importance New Zealand places on working closely with our partners. Minister of Defence New Zealand and the Philippines will this week sign an agreement to enable the two countries' militaries to work more closely, Defence Minister Judith Collins says. Ms Collins will travel to the Philippines today to sign the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, which highlights the importance New Zealand places on working closely with our partners, she says. 'It formally sets the legal framework for engagement between our respective militaries, better facilitating ongoing cooperation, activities and exercises in each of our territories. 'The agreement follows a commitment made by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr during Mr Luxon's visit to Manila last year.' It will now undergo a final ratification process in the Philippine Senate. While in the Philippines, Ms Collins will meet with the President and hold a bilateral meeting with counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, the Secretary of National Defense. 'We are committed to reinvigorating our security relationships, to playing our part, and working with regional partners such as the Philippines to uphold the international rules-based order,' Ms Collins says. Ms Collins returns to New Zealand on 2 May. Notes: The Status of Visiting Forces Agreement is a treaty-level document that sets out the legal conditions for military cooperation between our countries, including the responsibilities and obligations on both sides. This agreement with the Philippines builds on two previous agreements that provide for practical defence cooperation, the Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement (2024) and the Defence Cooperation Arrangement (2012). New Zealand has a number of similar agreements, the most recent being one signed with Fiji in 2023.
Scoop
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
NZ, Philippines To Sign Military Agreement
Hon Judith Collins KC Minister of Defence New Zealand and the Philippines will this week sign an agreement to enable the two countries' militaries to work more closely, Defence Minister Judith Collins says. Ms Collins will travel to the Philippines today to sign the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, which highlights the importance New Zealand places on working closely with our partners, she says. 'It formally sets the legal framework for engagement between our respective militaries, better facilitating ongoing cooperation, activities and exercises in each of our territories. 'The agreement follows a commitment made by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr during Mr Luxon's visit to Manila last year.' It will now undergo a final ratification process in the Philippine Senate. While in the Philippines, Ms Collins will meet with the President and hold a bilateral meeting with counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, the Secretary of National Defense. 'We are committed to reinvigorating our security relationships, to playing our part, and working with regional partners such as the Philippines to uphold the international rules-based order,' Ms Collins says. Ms Collins returns to New Zealand on 2 May. Notes: The Status of Visiting Forces Agreement is a treaty-level document that sets out the legal conditions for military cooperation between our countries, including the responsibilities and obligations on both sides. This agreement with the Philippines builds on two previous agreements that provide for practical defence cooperation, the Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement (2024) and the Defence Cooperation Arrangement (2012). New Zealand has a number of similar agreements, the most recent being one signed with Fiji in 2023.
