On Thursday, New Zealand and the Cook Islands signed a new defence and security agreement, seeking to reset ties after months of tensions over the Cook Islands’ dealings with China and to clarify how the two sides will consult on defence and security matters going forward.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced in a statement that the declaration set out political commitments intended to remove ambiguity in their special constitutional relationship and allow governments of both Pacific Island nations to move forward.
Tensions Over China
The Cook Islands are a group of 15 small islands and atolls halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii, scattered across 2 million square km of the resource-rich Pacific Ocean. It shares a constitutional “free association” with New Zealand under which it governs itself. Cook Islanders hold New Zealand citizenship, and Wellington is responsible for defence support if requested, making trust and consultation central to the relationship.
The arrangement has been under strain since the Cook Islands deepened ties with China. New Zealand stated that it was not properly consulted on agreements signed between the Cook Islands and Beijing.
Peters has said that it was no secret the two governments had a series of “serious disagreements” since late 2024, and it became clear that one of the causes was a lack of understanding about the requirements of the constitutional relationship.
“This Declaration resolves this former ambiguity and provides clarity to both Governments so that we can move forward focused on the future, not the past,” he said.
New Beginnings
The declaration ensures that the Cook Islands commit to upholding the defence and security interests of New Zealand, and engage in any request for defence and security with it before engagement with other partners. In return, New Zealand commits to remaining the primary defence and security partner for the Cook Islands and increasing engagement.
The New Zealand government stated that it will release the funding that was suspended last year when the relationship was strained.
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said he was pleased with the signing of the declaration. He told a press conference that the two countries could now “look to the future with restored confidence and renewed purpose.”
(With inputs from Reuters)
