On 2 April 2026, New Zealand signed a new security agreement with the Cook Islands. The agreement is “intended to remove ambiguity in their special constitutional relationship” and aims at “clarifying how the two sides will consult going forward on defence and security matters.”
Importantly, the agreement “sees the Cook Islands commit to uphold the defence and security interests of New Zealand, continue to permit the New Zealand Defence Force access, and engage on any request for defence and security before engagement with other partners.”
After the agreement was signed, New Zealand announced it would “release funding [for the Cook Islands] that was suspended last year when the relationship hit a new low.” In June 2025, New Zealand had suspended its funding for the Cook Islands.
The move amounts to a successful parry by New Zealand of China’s efforts to gain geopolitical influence in the Cook Islands that saw some success in 2025.
Efforts Category: New Zealand’s Diplomatic and Economic Pressure on the Cook Islands
Modern Great Game Watch 