DEFENCE
Deeper Thinking Needed – AUKUS and Them Opposition Spokesperson for Defence and Veterans Chris Penk MP writes that there’s been very little analysis on what the AUKUS announcement means for New Zealand’s defence and for decisions around maritime capability.
It’s now been some months since we heard the AUKUS alliance announced, including news of a nuclear-powered submarine fleet for Australia. Almost all the commentary here focused on the activity of other nations in our region and guesswork as to geopolitical implications even further afield. But while we’ve heard much about the interests of AUKUS partners relative to those of China – and less direct, more hypothetical impacts, such as New Zealand’s trade prospects with France – there’s been relatively little analysis of what it all means for our defence. In military strategic terms, the change is potentially seismic. The big picture is that New Zealand is a maritime nation dangerously
dependent on the state of our surrounding seas. It’s not just our ideals in the Indo/Asia-Pacific region that are at stake but also our national interests. Our territorial waters (out to 12 nautical miles) and Exclusive Economic Zone (out to 200 nautical miles) are the stage on which our national fate will be decided in the rest of this century. We are surrounded by seas that are variously trade routes, fisheries, areas of maritime search and rescue responsibility and part of the worldwide “freedom of navigation” network. These are also places where piracy, modern slavery, people smuggling and drug running occur, among other unsavoury activities. Out of sight these may all be, but they should be front of mind.
Chris Penk MP is the Opposition Spokesperson for Defence and Veterans. He has served as an officer in both the Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal Australian Navy.
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Line of Defence
