SYDNEY – New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has emphasized the need for continued US involvement in the Indo-Pacific region, following a diplomatic visit to Washington aimed at reinforcing ties with the new Trump administration.
Speaking in Honolulu during a week-long Pacific tour with fellow New Zealand lawmakers, Peters said his country “wants, indeed needs, for the US to remain an active, engaged and constructive partner in the Indo-Pacific.”
His remarks come amid growing concerns in Wellington over China’s expanding influence in the Pacific and uncertainty surrounding the US’s future role in the region, particularly after Washington suspended certain aid programs.
“We look forward to more constructive dialogue in the days ahead,” Peters added, according to an official transcript of his remarks.
During his recent visit to Washington, Peters met with key figures in the new US administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Director of the US Office of Foreign Assistance Peter Marocco, and several congressional leaders.
Following the meetings, Peters said the relationship between New Zealand and the United States remained “on a strong footing,” despite what he described as “the most challenging strategic environment in at least half a century.”
New Zealand and the US have collaborated closely in recent years to support Pacific Island nations and counterbalance Beijing’s growing economic and strategic presence in the region.