Winston Peters Heads to Washington for Talks With US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Foreign Minister Winston Peters is travelling to Washington DC this week for a meeting with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as the war in Iran continues to disrupt global oil supplies and New Zealand grapples with the economic fallout.

Peters confirmed the trip on Easter Monday, telling media that the meetings would cover shared commitments to cooperation in the Pacific and Indo-Pacific, as well as what he described as significant international developments, particularly the conflict in the Middle East and its impacts on the region. RNZ reported that Peters would also meet with US Deputy Secretary of State Landau during the visit.

The US State Department confirmed the meetings would cover defence cooperation, burden sharing between militaries, trade, and emerging technologies including New Zealand’s space sector. Rubio was reported to have noted that the “ultimate trade barrier is the inability to transit sea lanes,” a pointed reference to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz which has choked global oil supplies since the conflict began in late February.

The visit comes at a sensitive time for New Zealand’s relationship with the United States. The government has walked a careful line on the conflict, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon calling for de-escalation and describing some of the rhetoric around the war as “unhelpful.” Peters himself has said New Zealand has “absolutely no intention of joining” the war, although commentators have noted that the government has not entirely closed the door on some form of contribution.

For New Zealand, the stakes are practical as much as diplomatic. The fuel crisis triggered by the Strait of Hormuz closure has pushed petrol past $3.40 a litre and sent diesel prices up more than 87 percent. The country imports 100 percent of its refined fuel from Asian refineries that depend on Middle Eastern crude oil, making New Zealand acutely vulnerable to any prolonged disruption to shipping lanes it has no influence over.

Peters told 1News that the conflict could “be over much quicker than people are currently expecting” and urged New Zealanders to remain “cool and calm.” Whether that optimism is shared in Washington remains to be seen. The US-Israeli military campaign against Iran has shown no sign of winding down, and the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to commercial shipping.

The meetings in Washington will also touch on Pacific regional security, an area where the United States has been increasingly engaged as it competes with China for influence in the region. New Zealand has traditionally played a significant role in Pacific diplomacy, and Peters is expected to reaffirm the country’s commitment to regional stability while seeking assurances about the impact of the Middle East conflict on the wider global order.

Peters is expected to return to New Zealand later in the week. The government has not indicated whether any formal agreements or joint statements are expected from the visit.

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