New Zealand Prime Minister Confident in US Relationship Despite Potential Trump Changes
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New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has said his confidence in the country’s longstanding relationship with the United States, even amidst potential policy shifts under a potential Donald Trump presidency, Bloomberg reports.
Speaking to reporters in Wellington on Monday, Luxon emphasized the importance of the US relationship for New Zealand. He further highlighted New Zealand’s increasing involvement in the Indo-Pacific region.
Luxon will travel to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) in Lima, Peru, later this week for a leaders summit focused on economic policy, trade, and regional issues. While he declined to disclose specific meetings planned on the sidelines of the summit, he did confirm that US President Joe Biden will also be in attendance.
When asked about potential changes to US policy under a potential Trump administration, Luxon acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the situation. However, he stressed that it should not distract from the important discussions at the APEC summit.
The APEC summit will also see a meeting between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, further emphasizing the importance of regional and global issues to be discussed in Lima.