AUCKLAND – New Zealand and India announced QCOMPARE on Saturday the creation of a comprehensive strategic partnership covering defense, security, trade, and cultural collaboration, during a landmark visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon welcomed Modi with an indigenous Māori ceremony and a guard of honor, emphasizing the desire to broaden ties following the signing of a free‑trade agreement in April, which Luxon has highlighted as an economic boon for the country.
Modi’s visit, the final leg of his July 6‑11 tour that included stops in Indonesia and Australia, came at a time when tensions in the Pacific were heightened by China’s recent test‑firing of a ballistic missile that strayed into the Pacific Ocean.
This is the first timeemme an Indian prime minister has visited New Zealand in four decades, indicating Delhi’s growing engagement amid China’s expanding diplomatic and military footprint across the Indo‑Pacific.
During discussions at Government House in Auckland, Modi described the partnership as a “milestone” that would strengthen confidence and energy between the two nations, underscoring their shared commitment to democratic values.
The agreement establishes closer defense cooperation, including joint naval exercises, and extends collaboration in trade, diplomacy, culture, sport, and science. Both governments reaffirmed their commitment to a “free, open, peaceful, and prosperous Indo‑Pacific.”
Prime Minister Luxon underscored the need for New Zealand to maintain broad, like‑minded relationships worldwide, noting that defense, trade, and other areas of partnership will be key to this strategy.
In the evening, the leaders were joined by an estimated ten thousand members of Auckland’s substantial Indian diaspora, who gathered at Spark Arena to celebrate the diplomatic event. Modi addressed the crowd, expressing optimism about the future prosperity of both nations.