New Zealand’s Foreign Minister calls for a strong US role in the Pacific region

New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters warned today of a world that has become more unstable and fraught with problems, and called on the United States (US) to engage in the Pacific region, while at the same time pointing to undesirable geopolitical maneuvers in that part of the world.

In his last major foreign policy speech before the elections in New Zealand, scheduled for November 7, Peters stated that the current situation is not harmless, but cited examples such as missile tests without permission or adequate notification, naval exercises moving further south, as well as the threat that organized transnational crime poses to Pacific neighbors and New Zealand itself.

Although he did not directly mention China, Peters had previously condemned China’s test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the southern Pacific, according to the British agency Reuters.

At the time, the official Chinese agency Xinhua reported that the launch was a “routine part” of China’s annual military training and was not directed against any particular country or target.

“The US is a Pacific power and we need an engaged America in the Pacific region to support regional prosperity and security,” Peters said.

Peters, who is serving as foreign minister for the third time, emphasized that Washington has an important role in helping Pacific nations build capacity to combat drug trafficking—a phenomenon he called an “evil” that is washing up on the shores of the region.

New Zealand is seeking to strengthen its role in the Pacific through defense cooperation and diplomatic engagement, while at the same time calling on larger partners, including the US, to better respect the priorities of island governments.

Peters, an experienced populist politician who is 81 years old, is seeking to be re-elected as leader of the “New Zealand First” party, which is a junior partner in the ruling coalition.

Although it is unlikely that he will personally seek the position of prime minister, Peters has played a key role in forming governments on several occasions since New Zealand introduced a proportional representation system in the 1990s.