Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern underlines New Zealand’s commitment to maintaining a “truly independent foreign policy” in a world that is “damned messy”.
Speaking at an event hosted by the Lowy Institute – a prestigious foreign affairs think tank based in Sydney – Ardern discussed today how New Zealand manages its various economic and geopolitical relationships.
She had some key messages, saying that while New Zealand will support Ukraine, in light of the “illegal and unjustified” invasion of Russia, “this is essentially the Russian war”.
“Let’s not characterize this differently as a war of the west against Russia. Or democracy versus autocracy. It’s not,” Ardern said.
“Of course, we also shouldn’t assume it’s a demonstration of the inevitable trajectory in other areas of geostrategic struggle,” she said, likely referring to China taking a more aggressive approach to foreign affairs.
“In the wake of the tensions we are seeing rising, including in our Indo-Pacific region, diplomacy must become the strongest tool and de-escalation the loudest call.
“However, we will not succeed if the parties we want to work with become increasingly isolated and the region in which we live becomes increasingly divided and polarized. We must not allow the risk of a self-fulfilling prophecy to become an inevitable outcome.” for our region.”
Ardern said this is one of the reasons New Zealand is stepping up its involvement in the Pacific and that “economic architecture” would build “resilience” in the region.
She stressed that the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji is the “vehicle to meet the regional challenge”.
“We see local security vulnerabilities being resolved locally, with the security of Pacific Islands Forum members being addressed primarily by the Forum family.”
Ardern said it would be wrong to characterize China’s involvement in the Pacific as “new”.
“It would also be wrong to position the Pacific in such a way that they must ‘take sides’. These are democratic nations with their own sovereign right to determine their foreign policy commitments… Priorities must be set by the Pacific Ocean. They must be free from coercion.”
Reflecting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ardern said: “In the face of global conflicts and tensions, we continue to position ourselves on the principle of maintaining the rules-based order through multilateral institutions. And in seeking solutions to problems , be it war or dispute, New Zealand will turn to the same institutions to act as a mediator and, if necessary, as a judge.”
However, she noted that the United Nations has not responded adequately to the war in Ukraine because of the position taken by Russia in the Security Council.
“Here, when the system fails, we look for partnerships and approaches based on the second principle of our independent foreign policy — our values,” Ardern said.
“A belief that we have a moral responsibility to do our part to maintain the rules-based order. That whether or not a collective approach is possible, upholding the core values of human rights, gender equality, state sovereignty, climate action – that falls to everyone of us to defend and defend.”
As for the Pacific, Ardern said climate change should also be a “foreign policy priority.”
“While we are all concerned, and rightly so, about any step toward militarizing our region, it should certainly be accompanied by a concern for those experiencing the violence of climate change.”
Ardern noted that New Zealand invested in mitigating climate change in the Pacific — “our home.”
“And that makes you, our cousins. But more importantly, over many years it has made you our friend.
“You are our second largest trading partner. You are our only formal ally. You are our largest market for FDI. Forty percent of New Zealand arrivals in 2019 came from Australia. be allowed to.
“We share our people, our problems and our solutions. In fact, if we look at our principles; cooperation, values and place – we naturally find you in them. We will not always agree, and we would You shouldn’t. But it’s true that in the messy world we live in, friendship is important.”
Ardern concluded, “In this messy world, still full of opportunity and optimism, I hope you’ll find us both, on our own terms, heading in the same direction.”
A New Zealand politician’s last major speech to the impartial international policy group was in 2018, when then-Secretary of State Winston Peters outlined the ‘Pacific reset’ approach.
Peters then spoke about building “resilience” in the Pacific and moving away from “donor/recipient interaction” and toward “real, mature political partnerships”.
Current Secretary of State Nanaia Mahuta has built on this approach, and Ardern has also spoken extensively about respecting and encouraging the autonomy of Pacific countries as an essential part of New Zealand’s relations.
The background to her speech is rising geopolitical tensions in the Pacific, fueled by a security settlement between the Solomon Islands and China at the beginning of the year.
Tensions have been further fueled as China toured the region to gain support for a broader security and trade deal, which was ultimately rejected by Pacific countries, with the caveat that it would be discussed at the Pacific Islands Forum.
The United States has also joined the fray, organizing its own tour and seeking closer security ties with New Zealand and allies, including the creation of the Partners in the Blue Pacific.
Ardern’s comments today set the tone for the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meetings in Fiji next week, where issues surrounding China and climate change will be really fought.
She will also talk to other Australian ministers as part of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum, and has a formal bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.