Key facts
- New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters called for US engagement in the Pacific.
- Peters warned of geopolitical maneuvering and transnational crime in the region.
- He stated the US has an important role in helping Pacific nations disrupt drug trafficking.
- Peters noted US announcements in Palau included $150 million in support for Pacific Islands.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters delivered a strong call for continued US engagement in the Pacific, warning of a more unsettled global environment and unwelcome geopolitical maneuvering in the region. In a significant foreign policy speech ahead of New Zealand's November 7 election, Peters highlighted challenges including unauthorized missile testing, naval exercises, and the threat of organized transnational crime to Pacific neighbors and New Zealand itself.
While not explicitly naming China, Peters' remarks followed his previous condemnation of China's intercontinental ballistic missile test in the South Pacific, which China's Xinhua news agency described as a "routine arrangement." Peters emphasized that the United States, as a Pacific power, is crucial for supporting regional prosperity and security. He specifically pointed to the US role in assisting Pacific nations in building capacity to combat drug trafficking, which he termed an "evil scourge."
The comments reflect the center-right government's increasingly direct stance on geopolitical competition in the Pacific, an area where China has been expanding its influence. New Zealand has been working to bolster its own role through aid, defense cooperation, and diplomatic engagement, while also urging larger partners like the US to prioritize the concerns of island governments. Peters acknowledged that the US has responded to such concerns, citing Washington's $150 million support package for Pacific Islands announced in Palau as a welcome recognition of these efforts.