ANZUS Pact Allies Eye Joint Military Growth Amid China Tensions

New Zealand and Australia Seek Deeper Defence Cooperation

Leaders from New Zealand and Australia convened amidst rising regional instability, signaling a commitment to enhance their military interoperability. The discussions were directly influenced by a recent, unusually positioned Chinese live-fire drill conducted near their shared maritime space.

Strengthening the “Anzac Force”

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon hosted his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, in Queenstown for their annual bilateral meeting. Luxon emphasized his nation’s desire for closer defense ties, referring to Australia as New Zealand’s “only ally.”

“A big focus for us has been interoperability with Australia. We want to be a force multiplier,” stated Luxon to the press. He further elaborated on the vision, saying, “We want to be one, sort of, essential Anzac force essentially operating within our region,” referencing the historical bond forged during World War I.

China’s Assertive Presence

The summit follows an incident in February where a Chinese naval flotilla conducted weapon drills in the Tasman Sea, the body of water separating Australia and New Zealand. This exercise necessitated flight diversions for commercial air traffic and was viewed as a display of China’s expanding military reach into waters less frequented by its navy.

Albanese previously voiced concerns to Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding the lack of advance notification for the drills. Xi reportedly countered by drawing a parallel with Australian military activities in the disputed South China Sea.

Shared Strategic Outlook

In a joint statement, the prime ministers acknowledged the increasingly unpredictable and perilous strategic environment. They highlighted the critical role their alliance plays in safeguarding and advancing mutual interests within the Indo-Pacific region. Progress in intensifying defense cooperation and integration was also lauded.

While China was not explicitly named in the statement, the leaders confirmed that their primary trading partner was a subject of discussion. “Of course, the geostrategic competition, in particular between the great powers, is something that countries like Australia and New Zealand do discuss together and we cooperate politically,” Albanese commented.

Luxon added that both nations have adopted a consistent approach in their bilateral relations with China. “China’s an important world power. It’s important that we can engage,” he said, emphasizing the value of open dialogue. “We genuinely are able to have a conversation — I think a very mature one now — to say, look, we do have very different histories, we do have different systems, we do have different values, that does mean we do have differences. Good partners should be not afraid to talk about those things,” Luxon concluded.

Boosting Defence Capabilities

Luxon announced in April a plan to significantly enhance New Zealand’s military combat readiness, which includes a commitment to double defense spending to over 2% of GDP. This represents a substantial increase from the approximately 1% allocation over the past two decades.

This strategic realignment occurs as global powers re-evaluate defence spending. For instance, the United States’ Department of Defense reported that NATO allies, on average, spent 2.27% of their GDP on defense in 2023, marking the highest level in a decade, driven by ongoing geopolitical concerns (NATO 2023).

Strengthening Pacific Alliances

In a parallel development signaling deeper engagement in the South Pacific, Japanese warships made a port call in New Zealand on Friday, their first in nearly 90 years. This visit underscores Japan’s efforts to foster stronger strategic partnerships in the region.

Australia recently revealed that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan will construct a fleet of 11 Australian naval frigates, a contract valued at an estimated $6.5 billion. Furthermore, Australia’s most extensive defense undertaking is a submarine deal with the United States and Britain, known as AUKUS, projected to cost up to $245 billion for eight nuclear-powered submarines.

Responding to calls for increased defense investment, Albanese remarked to reporters, “If people argue that we should increase our defense spending, we are.”