New Zealand and Thailand plan to elevate their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026, focusing on defense, trade, and people-to-people ties.

New Zealand and Thailand are planning to elevate their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026, marking 70 years of diplomatic relations. The leaders discussed opportunities to strengthen the relationship across defense and security, education, and people-to-people links. Economic cooperation was also a key focus, with a shared goal of tripling two-way trade by 2045.