Ardern Biden meeting on US engagement in the Indo-Pacific

by Lucy Kramer

WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will speak to President Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday about the United States’ commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.

“We will encourage the United States to continue and strengthen its involvement in our region, including economically, which is critical to our region,” she told New Zealand media at a news conference in New Zealand in Washington.

The meeting takes place amid New Zealand’s concerns about Chinese strategy in the region, after Beijing signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands.

Jacinda Ardern said she is also scheduled to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and US Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell.

(Reporting by Lucy Kramer, French version by Elena Vardon, Editing by Sophie Lott)