Looking to the Future: Expanding New Zealand Foreign Relations Beyond Traditional Partnerships

Abstract

Home to approximately half the world’s nations and containing some of its fastest growing economies, the four regions of Latin America, South Asia, Africa and the Middle East are set to have a massive influence on the international economy and rules-based system throughout the twenty-first century. This has major implications for a small state like New Zealand that must remain vigilant to shifting international trends to ensure it is not left behind. This chapter explains that expanding New Zealand’s pool of relationships beyond it’s traditional partners into Latin America, South Asia, Africa and the Middle East is essential to diversify economic exports (hedging against uncertainty elsewhere), extend the New Zealand ‘brand’, and ensure its voice is taken into account on critical international security matters. Notably, outside the Gulf Cooperation Council New Zealand does not have a dedicated ‘NZ Inc’ strategy to underpin its engagement with the countries in these regions. With this in mind, the chapter considers a key question: is New Zealand positioning itself adequately to take advantage of emerging opportunities in these four regions? It addresses this question in three stages. Firstly, it considers the current state of New Zealand’s relations with the regions. Secondly, it outlines the rationale behind these efforts. Thirdly, it identifies further opportunities and methods for expanding relations. It concludes that as the international system enters an increasingly uncertain era where a number of New Zealand’s traditional partners turn their attention inwards, it is essential that New Zealand meaningfully expands and deepens its relationships with non-traditional partners.