The Minister met a senior US Congressional staff delegation this afternoon - including Chiefs of Staff and National Security Advisers for both Republican and Democratic Senators on the US Armed Services, Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Committees.
They discussed:
- the important contribution, and ongoing engagement, of the US in the Pacific;
- the conflict in the Middle East, and its impacts on New Zealand and the Pacific;
- our cooperation in Antarctica; and
- strategic issues in the Indo-Pacific.
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The Centre for Strategic Studies is looking forward to having @CSIS Australia Chair @CharlesEdel in Wellington on Wednesday 13 May for a talk about Trump 2.0, what is different from Trump 1, & what it all means for the region & for New Zealand. Details 👇 https://t.co/bd7h1yJoXm
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The Minister was invited to visit Washington DC this week by US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
They met on Tuesday morning (US time), and discussed:
- US/NZ bilateral relations. The Secretary and the Minister traversed the warm, wide-ranging, and longstanding relationship between New Zealand and the United States - including on defence & security and trade & economic matters. They discussed the ongoing conversations led by our Trade Ministers on the issue of tariffs as well as the ongoing dialogue between our two governments on critical minerals cooperation.
- The conflict in the Middle East. Secretary Rubio outlined US progress towards ending the war. Minister Peters outlined the significant negative economic impacts on New Zealand, and our Pacific neighbours, arising from the war - and New Zealand’s desire to see dialogue and de-escalation. Given the impacts on the Indo-Pacific of Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Minister Peters and Secretary Rubio stressed the crucial importance countries around the world attach to international law as it applies to freedom of navigation.
- The Pacific Islands region. The Minister outlined New Zealand’s aspiration as host of next year’s Pacific Islands Forum, invited Secretary Rubio to attend, and encouraged the United States to continue to play a fulsome role in the region in close cooperation with New Zealand and Australia. Secretary Rubio and Minister Peters discussed priority matters in the Pacific, including energy supply chain issues and transnational organised crime.
- The Indo-Pacific. The Minister and the Secretary discussed the shared strategic interests of New Zealand and the United States in the Indo-Pacific region, as two Pacific democracies.
@SecRubio
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While in Washington DC, the Minister met Deputy Secretary of State, Chris Landau.
They discussed NZ-US cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
@DeputySecState
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.@DeputySecState and New Zealand Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Bede Corry reaffirmed the enduring partnership between the U.S. and New Zealand and the two countries’ shared commitment to expanding cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in support of a free, open, and prosperous region.
Read more: https://t.co/qdUY4H69Yz
The Minister spoke this afternoon to Chris Seed, New Zealand’s incoming Ambassador to the United States.
They discussed how to advance NZ-US relations in the coming years.
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When we engage and trade with the world, we grow our economy at home.
The United States is New Zealand’s second largest export market and it is a key relationship for us.
Got along to the United States Business Summit in Auckland this morning to talk about what more we can do to grow business and grow the economy.
I spent a great afternoon with the @NSAGov today. Our relationship with the NSA is incredibly valuable to our national security and in tackling cybercrime.
Many thanks to General Hartman and the team he assembled for the briefing. It was impressive.
#CyberSecurity
General Hartman has served as the acting commander of United States Cyber Command, director of the National Security Agency, and chief of the Central Security Service since 3 April 2025.
Excellent meeting with @DepDNILukas today at the office of the Director for National Intelligence. Our intelligence communities work together and have done since World War 2. #BetterTogether 🇳🇿🇺🇸
The Minister was pleased to meet Spencer Cox, the Governor of Utah.
They discussed how New Zealand & Utah can collaborate further, including on energy, investment, infrastructure and education.
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@SpencerJCox
The Minister spoke this morning to United States Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau.
They discussed US-NZ cooperation as well as major recent regional and international developments.
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@DeputySecState
📸 in 🇵🇬, September 2025.
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Good to see high-level political discussions with the US about tariff impacts on NZ and other matters today by Minister McClay and Minister Peters.
https://t.co/Y0W7pboL5g
The Minister was delighted to speak to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this morning.
They discussed:
-US-NZ bilateral relations, including on defence, trade and development;
-Recent events in the Pacific, including last week’s PIF meetings in Suva;
-The conflict in Gaza and efforts to achieve a ceasefire; and
-Recent US-brokered international engagement on the war in Ukraine.
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@SecRubio@toddmcclaymp
@JudithCollinsMP