Ardern to visit British PM, Nato summit
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed she will meet with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, when she to flies to Europe this weekend.
Ardern detailed plans for her third ‘‘reconnecting New Zealand’’ diplomatic mission yesterday, confirming she would attend the Nato summit in Madrid, Spain, and meet with other world leaders in Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the seat of the European Union.
Nato invited leaders from Australia, Japan and South Korea to attend its June summit. Heads of Government from the Nato members, such as US President Joe Biden, would also be at the summit.
Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg invited Ardern, and the leaders of Australia, Japan and South Korea to the summit ‘‘as our Asia Pacific partners’’. Nato, which is primarily a military alliance between European and North American countries, is currently grappling with how to end the invasion of Ukraine without drawing Russia’s war further into the West.
Ardern said the Nato invitation would make it ‘‘very efficient’’ to meet with world leaders from across the region.
As well as the Nato meeting, Ardern said she would meet with EU leaders in Brussels alongside Trade Minister Damien O’Connor.
The Government has been working to sign a free trade deal with the EU, which Ardern said was nearing a conclusion.
‘‘They key focus will be lending a hand to conclude the EU free trade
deal, as we enter the closing stages of negotiations,’’ she said.
The trip had been timed to make sure New Zealand continued the momentum of the negotiations.
Ardern and other ministers have been on a steady stream of diplomatic and trade missions this year. Ardern has visited Singapore, Japan, the US and Australia since April. ‘‘We’re letting the world know we are open for business, study, trade and travel once again,’’ she said.
While in England, Ardern said it was ‘‘tradition’’ to meet with a member of the British royal family ‘‘based on availability’’. She indicated it was likely she would meet with Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge.
When the Europe trip concludes on July 2, Ardern said she would travel to Australia for a business forum.