New Zealand and the Cook Islands have signed a defence and security declaration in Rarotonga, with New Zealand set to restart development funding that it had paused in June last year after the Cook Islands signed an agreement with China, reported Bloomberg.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced the signing on Thursday (02 April) during a visit to the Cook Islands capital.
Under the declaration, New Zealand said it would remain the Cook Islands’ main defence and security partner and increase defence engagement with the South Pacific nation.
The agreement also sets out commitments from the Cook Islands to consult New Zealand in good faith on defence and security matters that could affect the latter’s interests and constitutional responsibilities.
Cook Islands also agreed to engage with New Zealand on defence and security requests before engaging with other partners.
Furthermore, the nation will uphold the core values on which New Zealand citizenship is based, conduct its foreign policy and diplomatic relations within the constitutional boundaries of free association, and uphold New Zealand’s defence and security interests.
Cook Islands will also continue to allow the New Zealand Defence Force access to its territory, including its exclusive economic zone, so it can carry out its mandate and shared security commitments.
Both nations also consented to maintain an organised dialogue and provide information regarding defence and security matters upon request, to the fullest extent feasible.
In return, New Zealand committed to provide defence and security capacity and capability building, increase defence engagement, and consult the Cook Islands in good faith on matters that could affect its interests.
Peters said: “This Declaration outlines a set of important political commitments that the Cook Islands and New Zealand have made to one another which provide clarity on key aspects of our special constitutional relationship.”
Both sides also agreed to refrain from engaging in activities, agreements or arrangements with other partners that would undermine the commitments outlined in the declaration.
Peters added: “New Zealand and the Cook Islands people benefit from our special constitutional relationship. We look forward now to further enhancing the broad range of cooperation between New Zealand and the Cook Islands, as well as navigating together the complex strategic environment and the many shared challenges we face.”
