India and New Zealand have reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region in the second edition of Defence Strategic Dialogue which took place in Wellington yesterday. The high-level talks focused on advancing maritime security, joint military training, and overall defence cooperation. Defence Ministry said in a statement that both delegations engaged in comprehensive discussions to advance the newly elevated Strategic Partnership. Key agenda items focused on implementing the strategic targets outlined in the India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership Roadmap 2030.
Delegations extensively reviewed options to expand military-to-military engagement via joint training exercises, cross-service personnel exchanges, and defence staff college partnerships across maritime, air, and land units. The Dialogue was co-chaired by Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Amitabh Prasad and Deputy Secretary, New Zealand Ministry of Defence Richard Schmidt.
The visiting Indian delegation conducted high-level meetings with key leaders of the New Zealand Defence Force and Ministry of Defence to further anchor actionable strategic convergence. The delegation held discussions with the Vice Chief of Defence Force, the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, and the Deputy Secretary Capability Delivery. These engagements focused on accelerating joint capital procurement insights, matching operational frameworks, and ensuring seamless coordination for upcoming engagements.
