The prime minister is preparing to meet the American President Joe Biden at the White House in less than 24 hours, but don't expect any flashy announcements.
Jacinda Ardern has talked to the US President Joe Biden several times, but this will be the first time they have met face to face. Photo: Nicholas Kamm, Dave Lintott / AFP
John Key was the last PM to stop by eight years ago. Jacinda Ardern says this visit is all about cementing the relationship with the United States, she describes as "incredibly strong".
She and President Biden have talked "several times" over the phone or via Zoom, but "there's nothing quite like meeting face to face", she told reporters in Washington DC.
Ukraine and trade, namely the US proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) will dominate, with the eight-country tour by China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi serving as a constant reminder of their stepped-up efforts in the Pacific.
Ardern says she will be "continuing to encourage the United States to really continue and strengthen engagement in our region, including economic engagement", and IPEF provides that opportunity.
Under fire for not having enough of a diplomatic presence in the Pacific at such a crucial time, Ardern downplayed the significance of Wang Yi's tour, as "routine diplomacy".
"We do need to just take a step back and remember that, of course, China has been present in the Pacific and active in the Pacific ... over a number of years.
"What is happening right now is not new, perhaps the pace has picked up and the engagement has picked up, but it is not new," she said.
Building coalitions - the US versus China
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered a speech earlier this week framing the geopolitical battle with China, saying despite the Ukraine conflict the US would "remain focused on the most serious long-term challenge to the international order - and that's posed by the People's Republic of China".
"China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it," he said.
"It's a charged moment for the world, and at times like these, diplomacy is vital."
"Aligning with our allies and partners" is a key part of America's strategic response, said Blinken, which is working to "re-energise America's unmatched network of alliances and partnerships".
"Nowhere is this more true than in the Indo-Pacific region, where our relationships, including our treaty alliances, are among our strongest in the world."
He said the US was not "forcing countries to choose".
However, there's a sting in that tail: "It's about giving them a choice, so that, for example, the only option isn't an opaque investment that leaves countries in debt, stokes corruption, harms the environment, fails to create local jobs or growth, and compromises countries' exercise of their sovereignty."
Blinken warned: "We've heard firsthand about buyer's remorse that these deals can leave behind."
With a strong economic reliance on China, New Zealand walks a fine line between the two superpowers, but Ardern says being asked to choose one over the other, is nothing new.
"Regardless of political party, or the shade of government, New Zealand has been absolutely solid on maintaining our independent foreign policy," she said.
"It is fair to say, though, that we aligned closely on many issues, obviously, with those partners that share our values."
Logistical challenges abound
One more member of the delegation has tested positive for Covid this morning, now totalling three.
The whole delegation, including reporters, had to take a PCR test and one person, despite being asymptomatic and returning negative RAT results, came up positive and is now isolating.
It's got to the point that, due to her chief press secretary being "a bit Covidy" and stuck back in San Francisco, Ardern "cut out the middle man" and organised her own stand-up with media this morning.
There will not be any impact on the White House formalities tomorrow though, with the New Zealand's ambassador to the US there with her, and contingency plans in place.
Another disruption today is to travel plans with the breakdown of the NZDF plane in the American capital. It flew the delegation to the US, and has been shuttling between cities, back and forth across the country for the last week-and-a-half, but news came through this morning repairs are needed.
It will not, however, affect Ardern's travel home, as she had always planned to fly commercial.
