NZ PM invited to Biden’s Pacific Summit in PNG.

New Zealand Prime Minister to Attend U.S.–Pacific Summit

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is set to attend President Joe Biden’s summit with Pacific leaders later this month in Papua New Guinea. This will be Hipkins’ first visit to the Pacific nation since becoming prime minister in January. The leaders will discuss critical challenges such as climate change, maritime resource protection, and economic growth. Biden will become the first-ever sitting U.S. president to visit Papua New Guinea, as the United States increases its engagement in the Pacific region.

Strengthening Security Cooperation

In February, Papua New Guinea sent a delegation to Hawaii for security talks with U.S. officials. The State Department said they discussed the foundational framework of the U.S.–Papua New Guinea Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) to establish a “mutual understanding of core issues.” When completed and signed, a U.S.–Papua New Guinea DCA will be the foundational framework around which our two nations will enhance security cooperation and further strengthen our bilateral relationship, improve the capacity of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force and increase stability and security in the region.

Taiwan Urges New Zealand to Invest

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu has urged New Zealand to increase its investment in Pacific countries to help reduce their dependence on China. Wu warned of “the Chinese ambition” in the Pacific region and said that Beijing wanted to sign a security agreement with the Solomon Islands despite the island being geographically distant from China.

Key Takeaways:

• New Zealand’s Prime Minister Chris Hipkins will attend President Joe Biden’s summit with Pacific leaders in Papua New Guinea later this month.
• The leaders will discuss critical challenges such as climate change, maritime resource protection, and economic growth.
• Biden will become the first-ever sitting U.S. president to visit Papua New Guinea, as the United States increases its engagement in the Pacific region.
• Papua New Guinea and the United States are working on a Defense Cooperation Agreement to enhance security cooperation and strengthen their bilateral relationship.
• Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu has urged New Zealand to increase its investment in Pacific countries to help reduce their dependence on China.

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