India and New Zealand Elevate Ties to Strategic Partnership During PM Modi’s Visit (July 10-11, 2026)

Key facts

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Indian PM to visit New Zealand in 40 years during his two-day visit on July 10-11, 2026.
• India and New Zealand elevated their bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and adopted a comprehensive 'Roadmap to 2030'.
• A Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement was signed to enable reciprocal logistical assistance between the Indian Navy and New Zealand Defence Force.
• A Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Cooperation was signed to strengthen dialogue, operational coordination and joint activities in the Indo-Pacific.
• Agreements on hydrography and nautical cartography were concluded for joint preparation of navigational charts and sharing of hydrographic information.
• Both nations decided to establish a Maritime Security Dialogue to institutionalise discussions on regional maritime challenges.
• New Zealand announced it would lead the Maritime Security pillar of India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), focusing on combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
• A Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was created to enhance intelligence sharing and coordination against terrorism.
• New Zealand joined the Global Biofuels Alliance, expanding cooperation on sustainable energy.
• India’s National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and the University of Canterbury agreed to collaborate on Antarctic research.