U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on July 9, 2024, in Washington.
“It was a pleasure to welcome Prime Minister Luxon to the U.S. Capitol today and engage in meaningful discussion about the U.S.-New Zealand partnership,” Risch stated. He emphasized the importance of the meeting in light of “China and Russia’s growing alignment,” noting that “the futures of Europe and Asia are becoming more entwined.”
Risch highlighted New Zealand’s experiences with China’s coercion and interference, suggesting that these experiences could be valuable for NATO and European countries. “Today, I published a report on what NATO must do to stand up to China, and I believe there would be great benefit to New Zealand sharing its experiences with NATO and European countries,” he said.
The senator expressed optimism about continued collaboration between the U.S. and New Zealand: “I look forward to furthering our collaboration in the months ahead.”
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