New Zealand Forges New Alliance With 5 Nordic Countries, Imposes More Sanctions on Russia

A new multilateral group, called Nordic 5-New Zealand, recognises the interconnected nature of the countries’ strategic environments.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters attends a press conference during a Nordic Council Meeting within the framework of the informal foreign and security policy cooperation (N5), on October 29, 2025 in Stockholm, Sweden. The Nordic Council meetings bring together prime ministers, heads of government, ministers, parliamentarians from across the Nordic Countries and guests every year. The 77th Session of the Nordic Council is taking place at Sweden's Riksdag from October 27-30, 2025. (Photo by Claudio BRESCIANI / TT News Agency / AFP) / Sweden OUT Photo by CLAUDIO BRESCIANI/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images

New Zealand and the five Nordic countries have formed a new multilateral grouping, called Nordic 5-New Zealand, in recognition of their “common strategic assessments, values, and national development aspirations.”

After bilateral visits to all five Nordic countries—Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland—New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters also attended the inaugural Nordic 5-New Zealand Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Stockholm, where Russia was a major focus.