Winston Peters’ Ambitious Agenda as Foreign Secretary Sets New Direction for New Zealand Diplomacy

Foreign Secretary Winston Peters (right) with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (centre) and Law leader David Seymour on their way to unveil their coalition deals last month. Photo/Mark Mitchell

OPINION

It is ironic that as Winston Peters, David Seymour and Christopher Luxon walked to the Beehive Banquet Hall to reveal the coalition agreements, Peters asked the other two
decrease.

Because since that day, Peters has set a dizzying pace in his third term as Foreign Secretary.

He held a series of meetings with ambassadors, foreign ministers and leaders, in person or by phone, led a debate in Parliament on Gaza and made his first trip – to Fiji – last weekend.

It wasn’t just experience that gave Peters the comfort and confidence to act quickly. He is surrounded by the same work family that accompanied him the last time he held the position from 2017 to 2020.

Jon Johansson, his former chief of staff, returns as Peters’ special adviser. Michael Appleton, recently High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, has returned as his Senior Advisor for Foreign Affairs, and Helen Lahtinen has returned as his Principal Private Secretary. In addition, she has former parliamentary colleague Darroch Ball as chief of staff and companion.

As Luxon heads to Australia today on his first foreign visit, Peters has already firmly set the stage on foreign affairs and security in a way that will no doubt please Canberra, as well as Washington, and raise the hackles of Beijing.

In two formal speeches, first at the US Business Summit and another to diplomats in Parliament, Peters noted that although he is back to work like an old glove, foreign policy is definitely under new direction.

He announced that he intends to bring a new sense of intensity and urgency to New Zealand diplomacy and supported increased American activity in the region.

“There is more to do and there is not a moment to lose,” he said.

He also announced that, in the interests of regional security, New Zealand will revitalize its relationship with its Five Eyes partners (the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom), and with Japan and South Korea as other members of Indonesia. NATO Pacific. 4 (IP4).

Peters noted that New Zealand would strengthen its defense engagement and capabilities in the region: “we know we will need to have a greater presence and strengthen sovereign capabilities.”

Foreign Minister Winston Peters met Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in Suva last weekend. Photo/MFAT

This adds to the residual goodwill of New Zealand, which has replaced its surveillance Orions with four US-made P8As.

When Peters mentioned at the US summit the importance of having a stable, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific, he did not mention an “inclusive” Indo-Pacific, which has been New Zealand’s code for recognizing that China is part of the region. .

In the other speech, he downplayed New Zealand’s “independent foreign policy.”

It has been widely used by Labor governments to internally reinforce the breakdown of the United States’ formal security alliance in the 1980s due to New Zealand’s anti-nuclear status.

But privately, it has angered other countries that feel belittled by the implication that they are not independent or that their alliances with the United States reduce their independence.

This is because Defense Secretary Judith Collins accused the Labor Party of being traditionally anti-American.

What all this means is a rapprochement by the Coalition Government with old friends and a clearer enunciation of this by Peters.

It makes it very likely that New Zealand will adopt any option to join the non-nuclear parties of Aukus Pillar 2, the alliance between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, to supply Australia with nuclear submarines.

It also represents a sincere and warm welcome to Luxon from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, assuming the RNZAF aircraft passes through Tasmania.

Luxon this week echoed Peters’ push for greater “intensity” in New Zealand’s foreign policy activities and has an advantage. Luxon ran Air NZ and had an established relationship with Albanese when the Australian prime minister was transport minister. And together with Canadian Justin Trudeau, the three leaders issued a joint statement on the situation in Gaza.

Luxon tried to play down any foreign policy differences with Labor during the election campaign, but Peters has already made a diplomatic turn towards his traditional allies.

As prime minister, Luxon could find it difficult to manage New Zealand’s relationship with China.

Winston Peters’ diplomatic commitments so far

Foreign Minister Winston Peters meets Indian High Commissioner Neeta Bhushan at the Beehive this week, while Trade Minister Todd McClay is visiting India. Photo/MFAT

• Since taking office, Winston Peters has held face-to-face meetings with the Prime Minister of Niue, Dalton Tagelagi, the Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, the Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu , Kausea Natano, the secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum, Henry Puna. , Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman, as well as a meeting with Singapore’s Foreign Minister Balakrishnan before taking office from him.
• He held telephone meetings with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, United Kingdom Foreign Minister David Cameron, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joy, the Foreign Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar, and Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi.
• He held face-to-face meetings with the following heads of mission in New Zealand: United States Ambassador Tom Udall, Australian High Commissioner Harinder Sidhu, Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Fijian High Commissioner Ratu Inoke Kabuabola, Indian High Commissioner Neeta Bhushan, Ambassador of Mexico Pérez Bravo, Ambassador of Indonesia Fietje Maritje Suebu and Ambassador of Japan Koichi Ito.
• He has given formal speeches at the US Business Summit and at the reception for diplomats in Parliament.

2023-12-20 02:09:06
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