Argentina says it wants a deeper foothold in the Pacific, but New Zealand says any move into the region’s premier political body must be decided by Pacific nations themselves.
Speaking to media in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s Foreign Minister, Pablo Quirno, confirmed his country would be open to becoming a dialogue partner to the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
“There’s a lot of shared values in the Pacific region and Argentina as well, from cultural ties to historical cultural ties to historical sport ties, you know, a lot of trade that can be improved and we are like-minded countries,” Quirno says.
Chile is currently the only South American country that holds PIF dialogue partner status.
Quirno also revealed Argentina is exploring the possibility of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a free trade agreement between 12 countries including New Zealand, the UK and Vietnam.
Quirno says early conversations are underway as part of a broader effort to reposition Argentina as an outward-facing economy.
Despite Argentina signalling interest, New Zealand is careful not to pre-empt the region.
When asked whether New Zealand would support Argentina becoming a dialogue partner, NZ Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters declined to offer an endorsement.
“We don’t make our decision until we ask our colleagues or our cousins,” Peters says.
Both Ministers reaffirmed the need for strengthened relationships between the two countries.
Peters described Latin America, a region of more than 600 million people, as an under-engaged partner for New Zealand.
“[The Pacific] is almost one third of the world’s surface and a whole lot more needs to be done,” Peters says.
“We’ve got other countries in mind, and that’s part of our Pacific plan, and we are confident that they will join in.
“So, we’re going to build, and I think that seeing next year as opposed to where things look this year will be utterly different.”
Peters is currently leading a parliamentary/business delegation to South America, the first since 2007 when he was in the portfolio.
