DEFENCE
Grey Zone: A chance for Defence to lead Opposition Spokesperson for Defence and Veterans Chris Penk MP writes that the grey zone presents an opportunity to redefine defence and to orientate our military towards the threats of the future.
Chris Penk 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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The discussion about “grey zone” security threats is a fascinating one. I would argue that these threats represent an opportunity for defence to play the leading role in a new whole-ofgovernment approach that feels overdue already. It’s a timely discussion, I believe, with plenty of discourse (including in these pages recently) about the possibilities offered in the new information domain. It’s also very timely as the government considers – or at least should be considering – new ways of ensuring that the NZDF and Ministry of Defence are viewed as serious players in defending this nation’s interests. In this context, the concept of ‘defence’ should be considered broadly. Policy makers will do a disservice to our military if they allow our uniformed men and women to be pigeon-holed to
do only what they’ve always done. The traditional view of what’s achievable by an army, navy and air force simply must be broadened. A self-fulfilling prophecy will continue to be told otherwise: if defence does only certain things, defence policies will be geared towards only those things, and then only those things become do-able by defence. As the old saying goes, if all you’ve got is a hammer then everything looks like a nail. In the 21st century, any reasonable view of what’s needed to defend New Zealand’s interests must include threats and activity in the so-called ‘grey zone’. This is generally defined as being a place where actions are taken to coerce or undermine nations but which fall short of war. Commentators point to examples that include the likes of cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and even strategic spending on aid.
Line of Defence
