PM Christopher Luxon Exclusive: India-NZ FTA, Modi Bond, China Balance & Khalistan Concerns Decoded

The Hard Facts

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to strengthening ties with India through a proposed Free Trade Agreement, highlighting the immense potential for economic cooperation between the two countries.Speaking on his bond with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Luxon pointed to shared interests, including cricket, and praised India’s transformation under PM Modi, calling it remarkable. He said India has evolved from a low-income nation into a fast-rising middle-income economy.On the proposed FTA, Luxon said, “Don’t confuse the noise with the deep commitment across Parliament. We are in great support of the FTA.” He also emphasized intelligence sharing and law enforcement cooperation to address transnational extremism, including concerns linked to the Khalistan issue.The New Zealand PM also spoke on the changing Indo-Pacific, the impact of Trump’s America-first approach, the shift from a rules-based multilateral system to a multipolar world, and how New Zealand balances China as a major trade partner with India as an emerging strategic ally. -hard-factsn18oc_worldNews18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube

Last Updated: July 06, 2026, 23:32 IST