What does New Zealand bring to the Philippines’ security network?

The upgrade also builds on rapidly tightening defence ties, giving Manila another security partner and New Zealand a stronger foothold in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific, observers add.

New Zealand and the Philippines formalised the partnership on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Asean foreign ministers’ meetings in Manila, marking the 60th year of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and her New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters announced the upgrade, which followed an agreement made during New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s visit to Manila in April 2024 to elevate bilateral ties.

“New Zealand and the Philippines are close friends and trusted partners on the world stage – and today we turn this friendship into concrete action,” Peters said.

“Elevating our relationship to a comprehensive partnership signals the importance we place on working together to support a stable, rules-based Indo-Pacific.”