New Zealand, India strike 'milestone' strategic partnership

New Zealand and India have elevated their bilateral relationship to a "milestone" strategic partnership, signaling a significant deepening of ties across multiple sectors. The agreement, announced during a landmark visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, encompasses enhanced defense cooperation, including joint naval exercises, alongside strengthened collaboration in trade, diplomacy, culture, sport, and science. This pact marks the first visit by an Indian prime minister to New Zealand in four decades, underscoring India's growing engagement in the region. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon welcomed Modi with traditional Maori customs and a guard of honor, building on a free trade agreement signed in April. The partnership was unveiled against a backdrop of regional tension, following China's recent test-firing of a ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean. Both nations share a commitment to a "free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific," as stated in a joint declaration. While discussing regional security, including the recent Chinese missile test, Luxon emphasized New Zealand's need for diverse international relationships as a small trading and maritime nation. Prime Minister Modi described the partnership as a "milestone" that would foster greater confidence and energy, highlighting shared democratic values as a foundation for their collaboration. The visit also included a large public gathering, where Modi addressed an estimated 10,000 members of New Zealand's Indian diaspora, celebrating the connection between India's development and New Zealand's prosperity.

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Our firm belief in democratic values makes us natural partners.