Prime Minister John Key signed a new partnership with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmunsen.

New Zealand and NATO signed a new partnership. This happened as alliance chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced his first visit to Australia in efforts to tighten ties with non-NATO nations dealing with Afghanistan.

New Zealand currently has 189 troops in the 130,236-member force ISAF force in Afghanistan, while Australia has 1,550 troops, the largest non-NATO contingent.

“We may be far away geographically, but we are linked by common values and commitment,” Rasmussen said on signing an Individual Partnership Cooperation Programme with Prime Minister John Key.

“New Zealand has been doing excellent job in Afghanistan since 2003,” the NATO chief also said on Twitter.

“I thank Kiwi troops for their courage, professionalism and sacrifice.”

In a statement he released, Mr. Key stated that the relationship between NATO and New Zealand had progressed over the past 10 years. This was mainly through being involved in the ISAF mission led by the NATO in Afghanistan.

From Twitter…

NZ Signs New NATO Partnership. Pact boosts cooperation in fields such as cyber-defence, disaster relief, crisis management and training.

— USNZmaroni (William Maroni) (@USNZmaroni) Tue Jun 5 2012

This new deal with New Zealand promotes steps to improve cooperation in fields like cyber-defence, crisis management, training and disaster relief.

On the other hand, Rasmussen has hailed Australia’s decision to take over the mentoring role of Uruzgan in the central Afghan province from US command.

From YouTube…