- February 20, 2023
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- February 20, 2023
On February 20th, 2023, Aspen Germany and the Aspen Institute New Zealand hosted a virtual Ambassadors’ Talk on German-New Zealand Ties Amid Changing Geopolitical Realities. The event took place from 9:00 – 10:00 A.M. CET / 9:00 – 10:00 p.m. NZT on Zoom.
Over the past 15 years the term Indo-Pacific has grown in prominence in geopolitical discourse as a denominational construct depicting a region spanning from the pacific to the Indian ocean. It has also gained a reputation as a strategic concept implying a united, U.S.-led push against China’s dominance in the region. More recently, China’s attempts to dominate Taiwan and Taiwan’s alignment with the U.S. have amplified this tension.
Germany and New Zealand have strong ties, characterized by common values, robust trade relations, and frequent cooperation on scientific initiatives. In the wake of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and Germany’s growing role in the EU’s promotion of international cooperation, how is Germany’s international security policy in the Pacific region shifting? What is the role of the Ambassadorial offices in promoting bilateral cooperation and promoting prosperity in the Indo-Pacific? How can we deal with the increasingly ideological conflict between the USA and China in the Indo-Pacific? How can Germany and New Zealand help shape a rules-based order that also takes China into account? How can cooperation on climate policy be intensified?
We discussed these questions with our honorable guests New Zealand’s Ambassador to Germany Craig Hawke and German Ambassador to New Zealand Nicole Menzenbach. The discussion was moderated by Sir Don McKinnon.
