New Zealand’s foreign minister on Wednesday ruled out Wellington joining a landmark defense technology deal between Australia, Britain and the United States any time soon, but branded critics as “outdated”.
Winston Peters said it would be “irresponsible” for the government not to explore deeper defense co-operation with allies, in a speech that described how the foundations of New Zealand’s independence-minded foreign policy had “seismically changed”. He said that.
New Zealand’s potential participation in the AUKUS group’s efforts to develop advanced military technology, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, underwater drones and hypersonic missiles, has roiled the country’s politics.
Former centre-left Prime Minister Helen Clark was among those who argued that joining AUKUS threatened New Zealand’s sovereignty and risked damaging its relationship with China, its main trading partner.
Mr Peters on Wednesday called such arguments “outdated” and said: “The world has changed and so must we.”
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Mr Peters said the strategic environment that once served New Zealand’s interests was no longer there, citing the decisions of previously neutral Sweden and Finland to join NATO.
“These foundations that underpinned New Zealand’s foreign, trade and economic policy over the past several decades underwent a seismic shift in the first quarter of the 21st century,” he said, according to the speech.
“The strategic environment in the Pacific is far from benign and benign. Relentless pressure is exerting itself across the region as beachheads are sought and influence is extended.”
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Mr Peters said New Zealand should therefore consider joining AUKUS when the time is right.
“It would be completely irresponsible for any government, in any capacity, to not consider whether it is in the national interest to work with like-minded partners on technological advances,” he said.
“This is where New Zealand needs to ask itself tough questions: Are we playing our part in demanding a safer region and world?”
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“New Zealand’s long history of frugality in defense cannot be maintained if we want to continue to command the respect and influence of other countries,” he said.
Mr Peters said it was still unclear whether New Zealand would be invited to join the so-called second pillar of AUKUS, which focuses on defense technology, after two years of preliminary negotiations.
Washington, London and Canberra are also holding talks with Japan and South Korea, and all have agreed to join, so negotiations appear to be moving further along.
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“We also need to think carefully about what power providers we may offer, or are expected to offer, in return to our Pillar 2 partners. That will take time. “I guess so,” Peters said.
“At that point in the future, economic and security benefits and costs will need to be carefully weighed when deciding whether joining Pillar 2 is in the national interest.
“The government is still a long way from being able to make such decisions.”
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