India FTA division harms NZ-India relations, minister warns

New Zealand's coalition government is facing internal friction over the India Free Trade Agreement, which Immigration Minister Erica Stanford believes is detrimental to the country's diplomatic ties with India. Stanford described the ongoing divisions within the coalition as "not helpful" for fostering a strong relationship with the Indian government.

Her comments arrive at a sensitive time, coinciding with widespread speculation that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to visit New Zealand in the upcoming month. Such a high-profile visit could be impacted by the perceived disunity within the New Zealand government regarding trade relations with India.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also weighed in on the issue, though the specifics of his remarks were not fully detailed in the provided text. The coalition's internal debates over the trade deal appear to be overshadowing potential diplomatic opportunities and raising concerns about the stability and effectiveness of New Zealand's foreign policy approach towards a key Asian partner.

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