Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has wrapped up his time at the NATO Summit in the Hague by meeting Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Earlier this week, the New Zealand Government announced an additional $16 million in support for Ukraine, revealed shortly before Luxon left for the summit in the Netherlands.
At the time, the Prime Minister said the country "stands in solidarity with Ukraine" and he expected the subject to be raised, alongside the ongoing US and Israeli conflict with Iran.
At the summit in The Hague, the alliance's 32 European and North American countries agreed to increase their defence spending to 5% of GDP within a decade.
Speaking about his time at the summit, Luxon said the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions "face many of the same security challenges".
Europe correspondent Kate Nicol-Williams said it was important for New Zealand to be at the summit as an Indo-Pacific partner. (Source: Breakfast)
"That’s why it’s important New Zealand is at the table at NATO for these critical discussions with likeminded partners," he said.
"We can see the links between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific in North Korea’s support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Russia’s technical expertise that can help North Korea develop its nuclear programme.
He said New Zealand was committed to the rules-based international system, and democratic values and norms alongside NATO members.
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Iran strikes report, stranded travellers land safely, rough weather coming, Bezos' wedding under fire, Kiwi basketballer joins LA Lakers. (Source: 1News)
During the summit, Luxon held one-on-one talks with a number of leaders and met with NATO alongside the other members of the Indo-Pacific Four – Australia, the Republic of Korea and Japan.
Luxon is due to return to New Zealand tomorrow.
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