India, New Zealand forge strategic partnership in Auckland
What's new: The pact adds defense cooperation and naval exercises as both countries stress a free and open Indo-Pacific.
India and New Zealand elevated ties to a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Auckland, the first by an Indian leader to New Zealand in 40 years. Modi and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon agreed to deepen cooperation across defense, security, trade, diplomacy, culture, sport and science, according to a joint statement. The deal includes closer defense links and naval exercises, and both countries pledged greater collaboration on maritime safety. The visit comes as India pushes to strengthen ties across the Asia-Pacific and after China test-fired a ballistic missile into the Pacific earlier in the week, sharpening regional security concerns.