New Delhi, May 30, 2025 (ANI): "In an increasingly multi-polar world, India is emerging as a geopolitical giant and a vital security actor both regionally and globally...", says, Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of New Zealand br He says, "... A significant step forward came with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Air New Zealand and Air India, aiming to explore a codeshare agreement across 16 routes covering India, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. This move will ease travel between our nations, strengthening tourism, educational exchanges, and business links... But our partnership with India extends far beyond economics. It reaches into defence and security — a growing priority for New Zealand in the Indo-Pacific..."br He further says, "... In these uncertain and unstable times, we’ve taken deliberate steps to build closer defence ties with India. A recently signed defence cooperation arrangement paves the way for greater collaboration between our armed forces. The New Zealand Navy currently leads Combined Task Force 150, tasked with securing vital trade routes and countering terrorism, smuggling, and piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden. India’s role as deputy commander in this mission is a strong signal of our growing strategic alignment... The impact is real — the taskforce has already disrupted over $600 million worth of illegal drug trade...