Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (R) attend the Winning Partnership Celebration in Auckland on July 11, 2026. (Photo by Michael Bradley / AFP)
Auckland, New Zealand: New Zealand and India announced Saturday a "strategic partnership" including in defence and security during a landmark visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to build on burgeoning trade ties.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon feted his guest with an indigenous Maori welcome and guard of honour, seeking to expand relations after signing a free-trade pact in April that he has touted as an economic boon.
It is the first visit to New Zealand by an Indian prime minister in 40 years, a sign of Delhi's deeper engagement at a time of strengthened Chinese diplomatic and military sway in the Pacific.
Modi's visit, at the tail end of a July 6-11 tour that has also taken him to Indonesia and Australia, comes shortly after China test-fired a ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean on Monday, stirring unease in the region.
India and New Zealand's strategic partnership will give their relationship "framework and breadth", Luxon said while hosting Modi at Government House in Auckland.
It binds them to tighter defence cooperation, including with naval exercises, as well as stronger ties in trade, diplomacy, culture, sport and science, the two countries said in a joint statement.
Their nations have a shared interest in a "free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific", they said.
