New Zealand, US relationship on strong footing

20/3/2025 6:03

New Zealand Foreign

Minister Winston Peters said his country’s relationship with the

United States is on a "strong footing” as he wrapped up a trip

to Washington.



Peters met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National

Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Head of the U.S. Office of Foreign

Assistance Peter Marocco, and a range of other administration

and Congressional representatives.



New Zealand is a close friend of the United States but not

an official ally. The two countries have worked together in the

Pacific to offset the growing influence of China, but there are

concerns among some lawmakers in New Zealand about what the

change in administration in the U.S. and its suspension of aid

funding will mean for the Pacific region.



“We have agreed with the United States that we should

continue to work together for a free, open and prosperous

Indo-Pacific,” Peters said.



“We have also talked about all the areas where New Zealand

and the United States have interests in common,” Peter said.



“These include the prosperity and stability of the Pacific

Islands, promoting a balanced and mutually beneficial trade and

economic relationship, and cooperating more on space and

technology and in Antarctica.”