PM Modi in New Zealand Update: India and New Zealand boost ties for strategic partnership

After formally elevating bilateral ties to a strategic partnership, India and New Zealand on Saturday (July 11, 2026) unveiled the comprehensive “India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership: Roadmap to 2030”, which lays out a robust plan to significantly deepen defense and security cooperation over the next four years.

The roadmap, which was endorsed during a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon in Auckland, places a strong emphasis on maritime security, counter-terrorism and cyber defense under its critical Pillar II.

The two countries also agreed to “continue military interaction through exercises, unit visits (naval, air, land), short-term personnel exchanges, sports visits, defense personnel college exchanges and high-level defense dialogues” and “continue to strengthen dialogue on defense-related matters, including at the ministerial level.”

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