New Zealand Keen to Share Defence Tech As Part of AUKUS Deal: PM

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (L) shakes hands with New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Sydney on Dec. 20, 2023. DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images

In his first overseas trip since taking office, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has visited his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Sydney.

Mr. Luxon said that in a “more challenging and complex world” the relationship in Australia, being New Zealand’s close ally, was “very foundational.”

In turn, the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was “absolutely delighted” to host Mr. Luxon.

“Australia and New Zealand, of course, share history, geography, values and a common strategic outlook, and our relationship has never been more important,” Mr. Albanese said.

When Mr. Luxon was CEO of Air New Zealand and Mr. Albanese was Transport Minister, the pair had formed a friendship based on being “aviation nerds,” he added.

Mr. Luxon said the trans-Tasman relationship was close to his heart due to his having spent five years working in Sydney, his son being born in Australia, and his daughter now living and working there, joking that New Zealanders living in Australia were its “best migrants.”

Security and Economics on the Agenda

Most of the talk centred around furthering the already strong relationship between the two countries during the short meeting.

Mr. Luxon mentioned his interest in talking further about security in the region and the two countries’ economic agendas.

The Australian and New Zealand ministers of foreign affairs and defence will hold their first joint meeting in the new year “as quickly as possible” after Christmas, Mr. Luxon announced, to ensure their plans and responses are “aligned and coordinated.”

He also committed New Zealand to doing its share in security and defence in its alliance with Australia, and announced it will also explore joining Pillar 2 (the non-nuclear section) of the AUKUS security pact.

He said the agreement was important in ensuring security in the region while a “number of countries were increasing military capabilities.” He did not specifically name China.

New Zealand’s opposition to nuclear power precludes it from becoming a full member of the alliance, an agreement might be reached regarding Pillar 2, which largely concerns the sharing of technology.

Mr. Albanese would not say if he was encouraging New Zealand in that direction, saying that sovereign governments didn’t push each other. But he said AUKUS was increasingly important in the context of greater use of artificial intelligence.

Trans-Tasman Roadmap

“We need to streamline any further bumps which are there and I know that you’re very keen on that in the interests of both of our nations” and said the two countries were most effective when working together,” Mr. Albanese said.

“In our talks today, we re-committed ourselves to the trans-Tasman roadmap to 2035 which we will review and modify annually ... we discussed the way we can work together in the Pacific Islands as well.”

He said this year had marked milestones for the two countries, such as the pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders living in Australia and the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which both nations hosted.

“I was also pleased that last week, we showed the extent of our cooperation with a joint statement we made, condemning the Hamas terror attack on Israel, supporting urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire, and affirming our commitment to a just and enduring peace in the region.”

He invited Mr. Luxon to Australia in March for the Australia-ASEAN meeting.