With China’s growing presence in the Pacific and widespread concerns about a “reshaped world”, New Zealand is increasing its interest in joining the Oaks Nuclear-Free Pillar.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters (who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister) and Defense Minister Judith Collins visited Melbourne, where they met with their Australian counterparts Penny Wong and Richard Marles, and announced the first 2+2 between Australia and New Zealand. ” held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Thursday’s defense ministers’ meeting.
Discussions between the two countries focused on foreign policy, security and defense approaches, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
Defense Minister Marles told a joint press conference that an Australian delegation would visit New Zealand “soon” to discuss the second pillar of the Oaks Agreement, a security partnership between Australia, Britain and the United States prompted by China’s growing influence. He announced that he plans to give an explanation to those involved. This area is centered around the Australian Navy hosting nuclear submarines.
The second “pillar” of Aukus covers the sharing of advanced military technologies, including quantum computing and artificial intelligence. New Zealand has not been offered, nor will it accept, the opportunity to join Pillar 1 because of its anti-nuclear stance.
Peters said the discussions taking place between the two countries in the current global climate are “the most serious and important that anyone in this room has ever experienced in their lifetime.”
In 2022, China signed a security agreement with the Solomon Islands, alarming Washington and Canberra. The Pacific nation of Nauru switched its diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in January, and Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister Justin Tkachenko this week said Papua New Guinea was in early talks with Beijing about potential security and police arrangements. admitted that.
Mr Collins hoped Australian officials would travel to New Zealand for the Oaks briefing “as soon as possible”.
“We want to seriously consider what opportunities are there and whether we can be a part of that as well,” Collins said, adding that New Zealand could potentially offer space and technology expertise. He added that there is.
The ministers hoped to increase “interoperability” and “compatibility” between the two countries’ defense forces, making it easier for militaries to act in coordination with each other and exchange similarly trained personnel and equipment.
Asked whether joining the Oaks, which China describes as a dangerous Cold War-era deal for the region, could sour relations with New Zealand’s largest trading partner, Mr Peters said: Ta. They spend a lot of time practicing the national interest…and that’s what we do. ”
Wellington has historically taken a more conciliatory approach to China than Australia and other Five Eyes security partners such as Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.
But in recent years, New Zealand has become increasingly vocal on issues such as human rights, the rules-based international order and the potential militarization of the Pacific. In 2022, following China’s activities in the region, New Zealand began developing its own maritime security “work plan” with the Solomon Islands, and in 2023 with Fiji to strengthen military training and maritime security. A defense agreement was concluded.
talk to sky news Mr Peters said on Thursday there had been “external interests” in the Pacific as countries with traditional interests had “ignored” the region.
“Once a vacuum is formed, it fills,” Peters says.
New Zealand aims to have a positive influence in the Pacific and treat its neighbors “equally”, he said.
At a joint press conference, Australian Foreign Minister Wong stressed the importance of the Australia-New Zealand relationship at a time when the world is “reshaping”.
“We often talk about how we came to this government in the most difficult or most difficult strategic situation since the end of World War II. “I think we live in a time where people are becoming more and more vulnerable,” she added. Australia and New Zealand have a role to play in ensuring peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
