The leaders of Australia and New Zealand have recently sought closer defense ties. In this context, they are considering sharing advanced military technologies with the United States (USA) and the United Kingdom through the AUKUS partnership.[1]
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon formed the coalition government after the elections held in October 2023, and immediately afterwards made his first visit abroad to his neighbor Australia. Luxon, who met with his counterpart Anthony Albanese in his meeting in Sydney, said that they would hold meetings at the level of defense and foreign ministers in early 2024 to “align and coordinate” the defense plans of the two countries.[2]
Luxon used the following statements:[3]
“We recognize that we face a challenging and complex world. Close security and defense relations with our key ally, Australia, are essential for New Zealand. New Zealand is committed to carrying its share of the weight of the alliance, and I want this alliance to continue to advance our shared interests and shared values.”
Within the framework of the AUKUS agreement, the USA and the UK agreed to provide a submarine fleet operating with nuclear technology against China’s increasing military presence in the region. Luxon said that New Zealand is considering joining AUKUS Pillar 2 and is committed to developing and sharing advanced military capabilities such as artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, and hypersonics among the three partners. “We will try to go into detail and evaluate the opportunities on this issue over the next year.” Luxon said, “AUKUS is an essential element in ensuring we have stability and peace in the region.”[4]
Albanese said there were opportunities for greater cooperation between the militaries of the two countries, especially regarding mutual compatibility. “The more we cooperate, the better it will be for both countries.” Albanese said, “We have not allowed nuclear-powered ships in our ports since 1984. Our country’s nuclear energy-free status is non-negotiable.” he added.[5]
It can be said that Australian and New Zealand leaders plan to strengthen defense ties within the framework of the AUKUS partnership, and New Zealand is interested in sharing advanced military technologies.
According to Luxon’s statements, New Zealand is considering joining AUKUS Pillar 2 in terms of developing and sharing advanced military capabilities. In this context, there is potential cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, and sharing of hypersonic technologies.
In conclusion, the importance of defense relations between Australia and New Zealand is obvious. New Zealand is now interested in the AUKUS partnership. In addition, this situation shows that national stances, such as New Zealand’s nuclear energy policy, should be taken into account. This provides a broad perspective on the complexity of regional security and cooperation.
[1] “Australia and New Zealand Leaders Seek Closer Defense Ties”, Associated Press News, https://apnews.com/article/australia-new-zealand-aukus-loxon-albanese-6075738f5bca35319d63761de9ab040e, (Date of Access: 20.12.2023).
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
