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| US SecDef Leon Panetta |
By DAN DE LUCE
AUCKLAND — U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta flew into New Zealand on Sept. 21, the first Pentagon chief to set foot in the country in 30 years, as the two countries seek to revive long-dormant security ties.
On the final leg of a week-long Asian tour, Panetta planned to thank New Zealand for its role in the Afghan war and to explore expanding defense ties that have begun to revive after a hiatus dating back to the 1980s, officials said.
“Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen a dramatic uptick in U.S.-New Zealand (military) relations,” a senior U.S. defense official told reporters before Panetta landed in Auckland.
“There’s a lot room for growth in this relationship.”
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