New Zealand, US agree to expand defence ties

New Zealand and the United States have signed an agreement to expand defense cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, signaling a further boost to ties between the two nations. The deal was signed in Washington by New Zealand's Defense Minister Jonathan Coleman and US counterpart Leon Panetta. It will build on existing "significant security cooperation" between the two "within the context of our independent foreign policy", Coleman said. The Pentagon said the agreement will include maritime security and disaster relief, according to the (BBC). The US-New Zealand deal, entitled the Washington Declaration, promises regular strategic dialogue and information sharing, and emphasizes "building maritime security presence and capabilities". The deal follows the Wellington Declaration, signed in November 2010, that committed the two countries to regular foreign ministry, trade and military talks. That agreement served to repair ties damaged 27 years ago when New Zealand refused to allow US nuclear-armed ships to dock. New Zealand has banned nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered ships visiting its ports since 1985. The US traditionally refuses to say whether its ships are nuclear-powered or not, so New Zealand has refused entry to all of them. A Pentagon spokeswoman said that this remained unchanged.