It appears that the Defence Policy Review (DPR) will be published in either July or August of this year.
New Zealand is expecting to soon publish its Defence Policy Review (DPR), Minister of Defence Andrew Little told Janes. “I don't have a precise date for that...
www.janes.com
NATO is going to upgrade its ties with its four Indo Pacific Partners.
NATO to upgrade ties with Australia, New Zealand, South Korea (paywalled)
This has caused one NZ commentator to claim that NZ is about to join NATO. Maybe he should read the
NATO Treaty before he makes such claims. I think he's fear mongering here and whilst we have a relationship with NATO, we aren't a party to the treaty, hence its Article Five doesn't apply to us, or any other non NATO Partner. Anyone who studies the NZ defence and security landscape should be aware of this fact. He claims that the DPR will be released by the end of this month.
Is New Zealand about to join 'NATO+', asks Geoffrey Miller.
www.newshub.co.nz
The PM made a speech to the NZ Institute of International Affairs today.
Today I want the opportunity to talk about New Zealand’s approach to a more unpredictable and complex world and set out how our Government is acting to protect and advance the safety and security of New Zealand and New Zealanders.
www.beehive.govt.nz
Said speech is interesting and he said:
"I firmly believe that in an increasingly volatile world, shoring-up and strengthening our closest relationships is key to our economic prosperity, enhancing our national security, and promoting domestic harmony. So, if you came today to hear me set out a radical departure in our foreign policy, I’m sorry to let you down. If anything, my approach in the international sphere is not that dissimilar to my priorities at home – getting back to basics and dealing with the bread and butter issues in front of us. In foreign policy terms it means making sure that we have greater economic resilience across our trade markets in a time of global uncertainty. The more that I’ve been in the role the more I’ve seen first-hand the enormous benefits of our independent foreign policy, our role as an honest broker, and the importance of our close relationships in enhancing our prosperity and security. It is important to stress at this point independent does not mean neutral."
So the NZG is sticking to its current foreign policy objectives, but he has stated that even though we have an independent foreign policy,
it doesn't mean that we are neutral. It is good that he has stated that. It should also be noted that the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence have stated the same at various times through this year.
"Russia’s invasion of Ukraine upended a long period of peace in Europe and has posed the most acute threat to the international rules-based system since World War II. So this visit not only strengthened my resolve in relation to the ongoing support we must supply to Ukraine in order to defeat Russia, but also the absolute necessity to avoid armed conflict where we can. Some of the men I met that day may now no longer be with us. Lawyers, teachers, builders. Husbands, fathers and sons. Innocents in a war not of their making. The Government has provided significant diplomatic, military and humanitarian assistance, and we will continue to play our part in supporting the people of Ukraine. We will keep making targeted contributions where they can make the greatest difference. But alongside that we must continue to fly the flag for peace, conflict resolution and disarmament."
Actually we have been rather tardy in our help for Ukraine. Much improvement is needed / required. The international rules based system benefits small countries like NZ and is the only real way we can survive in the modern world. Australia is in the same boat as well. Like Australia we will have to eventually chose a side.
He spoke about our defence and security.
"That said, we can’t be passive, and we need to keep investing in our defence and security capabilities at home. To that end, the Government will be releasing an interrelated set of strategic policy documents and assessments, spanning across New Zealand’s national security, defence, and foreign policy – including New Zealand’s first National Security Strategy. Taken together, these represent an important step in how we will protect our national security and advance our national interests in a more contested and difficult world. This set of documents will also outline where the Government will be focusing its efforts. Including:
- Investing in a combat-capable defence force and the wider national security system;
- Tackling emerging issues like disinformation, and undertaking more concerted efforts in areas where threats are growing, like economic security;
- Building and sustaining a public conversation on national security, by being more upfront about what we are observing as well as listening to New Zealanders, in order to grow and maintain social license for efforts to protect our security;
- Supporting Pacific resilience, providing development assistance, and continuing work to bolster the security capacity of Pacific nations;
- Strengthening security cooperation and ties in the broader Indo-Pacific region; and
- Working to maintain and strengthen the global system of rules and norms that have served New Zealand so well.
Taken together, these represent an important step in how we are protecting our national security and advancing our national interests in a more contested and more difficult world. They also help us to inform our decision making around ongoing investments in a combat-capable defence force including interoperability of all our assets like people, intelligence, tech, AI, and defence hardware."
The first point "
Investing in a combat-capable defence force and the wider national security system;" is interesting because, IIRC, it's the first time that a NZ has used the phrase "
combat-capable defence force" in a very long time. His predecessor appeared to avoid that like the plague, as did John Key. The last time I can recall this line being used would be back during the 1990s.
"And our longstanding membership of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing partnership remains a cornerstone of New Zealand’s security Separately, because we share with those countries bonds of history and fundamental democratic values, we are strengthening our policy dialogue across a range of areas where we share common interests, with New Zealand hosting the annual Five Country Ministerial meeting here in Wellington just a few weeks ago. Like any close family, we will have slightly differing approaches from time to time. The AUKUS agreement is a topical example.
We understand the strategic drivers for AUKUS, and those partners know that New Zealand's nuclear free position is proudly long standing and it's not going to change. We will not be part of the AUKUS nuclear submarine arrangement, and the partners in the AUKUS arrangement understand and respect that. Australia, the US, and the UK all have long histories of cooperation with New Zealand when it comes to defence and security, and we will continue to work together in areas that are consistent with our strategic needs and our values."
There it is and I think he firmly states the NZG position. However, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and the pudding hasn't been served yet. Hopefully the DPR will be clear on what the NZG intentions are.
m.jpost.com
