India-New Zealand Defence Dialogue Deepens Cooperation on Maritime Security and Joint Military Training

New Delhi and Wellington have taken forward efforts to deepen their defence partnership, with maritime security, joint military training and broader defence cooperation emerging as key areas of discussion at the 2nd India-New Zealand Defence Strategic Dialogue. The meeting was co-chaired in Wellington, New Zealand, by Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary in India’s Ministry of Defence, and Richard Schmidt, Deputy Secretary at the New Zealand Ministry of Defence. The development was announced by the Directorate of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, through a post on X on August 24.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the discussions also centred on implementing the objectives of the India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership Roadmap 2030, a framework unveiled earlier this year during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to New Zealand in July. Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had announced the roadmap as a shared mechanism to guide cooperation and strengthen bilateral relations over the coming four years. The latest dialogue placed particular emphasis on strengthening cooperation in the maritime domain, expanding opportunities for joint training and advancing defence ties between the two countries.

Defence and security cooperation is one of the six key pillars identified under the Roadmap 2030. The framework calls for greater military engagement through exercises, reciprocal visits by maritime, air and land forces, short-term personnel exchanges, sporting interactions, defence staff college exchanges and regular high-level defence discussions. India and New Zealand have also agreed to broaden their consultations on defence and security matters, including at the ministerial level. Maritime cooperation is another important priority, reflecting the two countries’ shared interest in maintaining a secure and stable regional environment. The roadmap further provides for operationalising a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, established under a Memorandum of Arrangement. Both sides are also expected to strengthen cooperation on cybersecurity through the India-New Zealand Cyber Dialogue, with a focus on common cyber-related priorities.

Beyond defence and security, the two countries are working towards formalising arrangements for cooperation against the trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals. Discussions are also underway on a proposed agreement between India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the New Zealand Police to enhance law-enforcement cooperation. The latest Defence Strategic Dialogue underscores the growing breadth of India-New Zealand security engagement and provides another platform for both sides to translate the commitments under Roadmap 2030 into practical cooperation.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from X@SpokespersonMoD.