WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Admiral John C. Aquilino, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, visited New Zealand from April 5-7, 2024, and met with New Zealand Chief of Defense Staff Air Marshal Kevin Short, Maj. Gen. .David Proctor, New Zealand Navy Secretary and Ambassador. Thomas Stewart Udall, United States Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to New Zealand and the Independent State of Samoa, and other senior government and military officials.
Leaders affirmed the partnership between the United States and New Zealand. Discussions included long-standing shared interests in regional security and a commitment to a rules-based international order.
At a ceremony during the visit, Mr. Aquilino presented Mr. Short with the Legion of Merit, the highest honor the United States bestows on a foreign leader. Short distinguished himself by playing a pivotal role in expanding operations, training, programs, and interoperability between the two countries.
Mr. Aquilino and Mr. Proctor's meeting discussed security challenges facing Oceania and the Indo-Pacific region. New Zealand has a mature network of mentors, instructors and technical advisors to support pan-regional security cooperation programmes. Therefore, we will strengthen bilateral combat effectiveness and compatibility through the strong partnership between the United States and New Zealand.
New Zealand regularly takes part in US-led exercises, including Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the world's largest international maritime exercise, in 2024. Mr. Aquilino and his military leaders discussed opportunities to expand cooperation and interoperability through the implementation of RIMPAC.
New Zealand and the United States are key partners in the region, and with each visit, joint operation, and military exercise, we build the trust and familiarity necessary to continue to provide peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
