New Zealand to consider joining Australia and Fiji in defence alliance, PM says

WELLINGTON, July 9 (Reuters) - New Zealand will consider joining a defence alliance between Australia and Fiji that ​both countries entered earlier this week, Prime Minister Christopher ‌Luxon said on Thursday.

Australia and Fiji signed a major defence treaty, the Ocean of Peace Alliance, on Monday, committing each country to come to ​the other's aid if either is attacked as Australia ​works to counter China's growing influence in the region.

Make sense of global markets with the Trading Day newsletter. Sign up here.

The ⁠treaty marks Fiji's first-ever alliance, while the Pacific nation becomes Australia's ​fourth formal ally, after the U.S., New Zealand and Papua New ​Guinea.

The agreement allows for other Pacific states to join.

New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters added in the statement that Pacific leaders have for decades ​operated under an approach of having Pacific-led responses to ​regional security issues - and this alliance underscores that stance.

“Elevating our long-standing relationship with ‌Australia ⁠and Fiji - and other Pacific nations - to the next level through an alliance would mean we become even closer partners," he said.

New Zealand currently only has one formal ally, Australia, ​although it is ​a member ⁠of the Five Eyes intelligence grouping and is a key partner of NATO.

The statement said the ​government would now discuss its interest in ​membership with ⁠Australia and Fiji, and any final decision would be made by cabinet.

The announcement follows China's military test-firing a missile from a nuclear-powered ⁠submarine ​into the Pacific on Monday, which ​leaders across have reacted to with concern.

Reporting by Lucy Craymer in Wellington and ​Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Raju Gopalakrishnan

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

  • Suggested Topics:

  • Asia Pacific

  • X

  • Facebook

  • Linkedin

  • Email

  • Link

Purchase Licensing Rights

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.
  • Reward
  • Comment
  • Repost
  • Share
Comment
Add a comment
Add a comment
No comments
  • Pinned