New Delhi: India and New Zealand convened the inaugural edition of the India New Zealand Defence Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi on August 5, marking a key milestone in advancing bilateral defence relations and regional security collaboration.
The India New Zealand defence strategic dialogue was co-chaired by Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Ministry of Defence, Government of India, and Kathleen Pearce, Head of the International Branch, Ministry of Defence, New Zealand.
Both nations expressed strong satisfaction with the current trajectory of defence cooperation and jointly charted a roadmap to enhance collaboration in emerging and existing areas.
Key Areas of Discussion and Agreement
The two sides identified key areas for expanded cooperation, including:
- Joint military training and capacity building
- Defence industry and technological exchanges
- Maritime domain awareness and security
- Multinational coordination and global commons governance
The Indian delegation commended New Zealand’s successful leadership of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150), during which five Indian Navy personnel served as staff.
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Both sides discussed bolstering the White Shipping Information Exchange, aimed at improving maritime information-sharing for regional security.
India New Zealand Defence Strategic Dialogue Established Under 2025 MoU
The India New Zealand Defence Strategic Dialogue stems from a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in March 2025, institutionalizing structured defence consultations and reaffirming the shared commitment to a rules-based international order.
Broader Bilateral Context
The growing defence cooperation builds on the broader strategic ties between the two democracies, grounded in mutual trust, people-to-people connections, and shared values. The ties were further strengthened by:
- President of India’s state visit to New Zealand in August 2024
- Bilateral meeting between the Prime Ministers in March 2025
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These high-level engagements have provided new momentum to defence and strategic collaboration.
As part of her visit, Kathleen Pearce also met with Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on August 4, 2025, for further discussions on regional and bilateral security issues.
