Jacinda Ardern Instagram – It’s 8pm in Madrid and we’re just about to head to Brussels for a big day tomorrow. Before we go, a quick recap on a busy day at the NATO Leaders’ Summit in Madrid. While NZ has been represented at a summit before, it was the first time a group of countries from the Asia Pacific region were asked to attend so we took the chance to catch up before hand. I also had meetings with the leaders of Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Each time the content was very similar – the war in Ukraine, climate change, and of course our free trade agreement negotiations with the EU. This afternoon we all headed into the NATO summit. In my short speech I highlighted that New Zealand did not come to join a new military alliance, we came to try and create a world that doesn’t need to call on them. We stand with Ukraine and will keep doing what we can to oppose the war and support the Ukrainian people, but we are also hope that in this period we don’t lose sight of the need to keep pursuing our goals around nuclear disarmament (especially at a time when the inclination may be for proliferation.) And of course, climate change remains the biggest security issue we face as a region – and on this we must all work together! And now, onwards to Brussels!