Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Washington, D.C., to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others, with talks to centre on the Pacific and Indo-Pacific and the implications of the conflict in the Middle East.

“The current global context is the most challenging New Zealand has faced in the past 80 years,” Peters said. “In times as complex as these, we highly value opportunities to meet face to face.”

Peters said he intends to discuss “our shared commitments to cooperate in the Pacific and Indo-Pacific, as well as significant international developments – particularly the conflict in the Middle East and its impacts on our region.”

“These meetings will advance New Zealand’s diplomatic, security and economic interests and facilitate greater mutual understanding of our respective priorities,” he said.

According to the Government, Peters departs on 6 April and returns on Friday, 10 April.