On Monday 23 June, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, a closer security dialogue as a first step towards a security and defence partnership, similar to the existing agreements with South Korea and Japan (see EUROPE 13517/10) and under discussion with Australia (see EUROPE 13662/20).
“The friendship between the European Union and New Zealand is thriving. And our trade agreement is delivering. The times call for partners to close ranks and act together for global security. So let’s step up and work towards a Security & Defence Partnership”, declared Ms von der Leyen on X, following their meeting in Brussels.
The two leaders discussed developments in the Middle East (see other news), insisting on respect for international law. In particular, they said that “now was the moment for Iran to engage in a credible diplomatic solution, as the negotiating table is the only place to end this crisis”.
The President then thanked Mr Luxon for New Zealand’s unwavering support for Ukraine, including its sanctions against Russia and its participation in the first discussions of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’.
In addition to the security aspect, the two sides returned to their trade partnership, underlining their “shared commitment to rules-based free trade and to modernising the multilateral trading system so it better reflects today’s economic realities”.
The two leaders also discussed the potential for closer cooperation between the EU and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and agreed to continue to support the launch of a dialogue between the EU and the CPTPP as soon as possible. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)