Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will try to conclude a free trade agreement and pressure Western leaders to reduce the impact of climate change in the Pacific in a series of meetings across Europe this week.
She says these talks will be an opportunity to encourage European leaders, and those of the US and Canada, to work together on solutions to great instability – be it economic, environmental or conflict-based. She says it is clear that the world is facing a “very difficult, difficult time”, with issues that countries cannot fight alone.
As deaths increase as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ardern and other Asia-Pacific leaders have been invited to the NATO summit. She will also visit Brussels for the “closing phases” of the EU-New Zealand free trade negotiations, and meet with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the UK.
ROBERT KITCHIN / Stuff
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says climate change and efforts to increase peace and stability and her top priorities when she leaves for Europe.
When Ardern reaches Madrid, Spain, for the start of the NATO summit on Tuesday, she says her focus will be on climate change and supporting efforts to bring global stability and peace.
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In an interview with well Before she left, Ardern spoke about her concern that these economic, environmental issues and conflicts could combine if left unchecked.
She said it was clear that difficult times lay ahead, but remained optimistic that diplomatic and intergovernmental efforts could soon bring much-needed stability.
“It is a very difficult, difficult time. “Add to that the ongoing pandemic management and a war, there is a reason for us as nations to come together and discuss solutions and ways in which we can further build our peace and stability,” she said.
Rising economic problems from inflation, to housing, to supply shortages, stretching all the way from fuel to skills, have given rise to warnings of an impending recession.
ROBERT KITCHIN / Stuff
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to Stuff before leaving for diplomatic and trade talks in Europe.
New Zealand’s impact on the world stage was limited, but she said this government’s participation in global efforts should not be underestimated.
“Here we have a large number of European leaders in one place. It is an opportunity for New Zealand to meet one-on-one to share our views on what is happening in our region, keeping in mind that the basis of all our foreign policy is to maintain peace and stability. ”
NATO, which is primarily a military alliance of European and North American nations, has struggled with what to do about war on its doorstep as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine.
New Zealand is not a member of NATO, but was invited to the summit as an “Asia-Pacific Partner” with Australia, Japan and South Korea.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a November speech that China’s intentions for Asia and movements in the Pacific “undermine the rules-based international order”.
Evan Vucci / AP
World leaders, such as US President Joe Biden and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, will attend the forthcoming NATO summit in Spain.
He said working with Asia-Pacific partners is the best way to address concerns about China and other “truly global challenges.”
However, Ardern said the number one issue for stability in the Pacific is climate change.
“The threat is real, immediate and happening now,” she said.
“We have recently seen in Fiji, their articulation that the biggest concern for them – under a highly controversial environment that is strategically, of course, trying to change some – their number one concern is still climate change. It is also on the NATO agenda.”
Although NATO was not originally intended to combat climate change or inflation, Ardern said her diplomatic and trade mission to Europe would also have a strong focus on steering New Zealand through economic turmoil.
In Brussels, Belgium, she is expected to reach an agreement with the EU – a group of 27 nations – to increase trade with New Zealand. The primary industries were a primary focus in these negotiations, but Nina Obermaier, the EU Ambassador to New Zealand, says the EU was particularly interested in sustainable trade and skills sharing.
ROBERT KITCHIN / Stuff
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will visit Spain, Belgium and England, before returning to Australia and then New Zealand.
Ardern expected a “very intense” last minute of negotiations with the EU. Before flying to Europe, Ardern said she was on calls to try to move the negotiations forward.
Details of the agreement are scarce, but Ardern and Obermaier say it has progressed because New Zealand was willing to commit to climate change goals. It is also likely to tie New Zealand to rules on how certain products, such as cheeses, are branded – with the EU seeking to protect what it calls “geographical indicators”.
The opening of greater trade to the EU, which is largely limited to New Zealand’s largest exports such as dairy, will be welcome news as the talk of a recession escalates.
Ardern said many of these global economic issues are beyond New Zealand’s control.
“But we can respond,” she said.
“We need to make sure we can identify the areas where we can make a difference.”
With her first stop as the NATO summit in Madrid, Ardern will go to meetings with EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday with Trade Minister Damien O’Connor.
As part of the government’s ongoing project to “rejoin New Zealand”, she will attend a number of events in London, England, which she says are mainly focused on showing the world “New Zealand is open for business ”.