Key facts
- First Indian PM visit to New Zealand in four decades
- Trade and defence on the agenda in Wellington
- Modi earlier met Australia's PM Albanese and opposition leader Dutton
- Visit follows Modi's Australia trip amid West Asia and China tensions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in New Zealand, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Pacific island nation in four decades, in what has been described as a historic diplomatic moment. The visit, coming on the heels of a productive trip to Australia, puts trade and defence cooperation firmly on the agenda between New Delhi and Wellington.
In Australia, Modi had held meetings with opposition leader Peter Dutton to discuss bilateral ties, and had stood alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to call for peace amid escalating tensions in West Asia and following a Chinese missile test. The Australia leg was itself substantive on strategic matters before Modi moved on to New Zealand.
The New Zealand visit carries symbolic weight, given the four-decade gap since an Indian Prime Minister last made the trip. India's growing diaspora in New Zealand, expanding trade interests, and shared democratic values form the foundation of what both sides hope will be a strengthened partnership. Defence and security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region is expected to feature prominently in discussions.
The back-to-back engagements in Australia and New Zealand are part of India's broader Act East and outreach policy, reflecting New Delhi's intent to build a durable network of partnerships across the Indo-Pacific. Al Jazeera noted that India is being seen as 'a shaping power' in the region — a positioning Modi's government has actively sought to cultivate.