Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper met with New Zealand's Minister for Defense Ronald Mark in Auckland today to discuss the U.S.-New Zealand defense relationship.
The two discussed shared collaboration on regional security issues, particularly in the Pacific Islands, and areas to strengthen U.S.-New Zealand defense cooperation.
Secretary Esper expressed appreciation for New Zealand's participation in the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, the D-ISIS Coalition, and participation in the multinational Enforcement Coordination Cell for United Nations Security Council Resolution on North Korea.
The leaders committed to deepening partnership on capability and capacity development along with interoperability to continue implementing our strategies in the Indo-Pacific.