Peters: Pacific needs US support
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is “unashamedly” calling on the Trump administration to engage more with the Pacific and to provide more aid to the region.
In a speech at Georgetown University in the United States, he said there were “few relationships better than that between New Zealand and the United States”.
“We share a special connection for we both retain democratic traditions that have stood firm despite the upheavals of the 20th century.”
The speech comes during Peters’ trip to the US this week, where he will meet US Vice-President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo.
In his speech, Peters said sharing some of New Zealand’s concerns about the Pacific and enlisting greater US support in the region was an area of focus.
“We unashamedly ask for the United States to engage more and we think it is in your vital interests to do so. And time is of the essence.”
One way the US could help more would be to increase aid to the region, Peters said.
Australia, which accounts for 40 per cent of the support in the Pacific, is the largest developed donor. New Zealand is second but Peters said the US’ assistance was similar in size to New Zealand’s. However, American aid was focused on parts of the Pacific where it had constitutional links.
“We are saying today to the United States that we welcome your involvement but ask you to join us in doing more because nations with common interests and common causes can achieve more together than any of us can manage on our own.”
He said larger players were renewing their interest in the Pacific, with an attendant element of strategic competition, but did not name them.