Australia and New Zealand Strengthen Military Ties Following China Training

• Leaders of New Zealand and Australia discussed military cooperation.
• The reason for the meeting was China's training with combat ships.
• Both countries emphasized the importance of joint defense interests.

Leaders of New Zealand and Australia discussed strengthening cooperation in the military sphere against the backdrop of recent training exercises by China with combat ships near their shores. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a meeting with Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Queenstown, which became the second in-person bilateral meeting of the leaders.

Luxon noted that New Zealand is seeking a larger military collaboration with Australia, which he described as "a single ally" of New Zealand. "The main focus for us is centered on cooperation with Australia. We want to be a force that supports one another," Luxon stated.

He also emphasized the desire to create a unified, core ANZAC force, which operates in the region, referring to the Australian-New Zealand corps, in which soldiers from both countries fought together for the first time during World War I.

This meeting took place after the Chinese military conducted training with combat ships in the Tasman Sea, which separates Australia and New Zealand. These exercises forced commercial airlines to change their routes.

Albanese last month expressed concern about President China's Xi Jinping during a state visit to Beijing due to insufficient prior notice about the exercises. He responded that Australia also conducts training, including missions to ensure freedom of navigation in contested waters of the South China Sea.

Leaders acknowledged that their countries face significant unprecedented and unchallenged strategic challenges over the last decade. They emphasized the importance of their alliance for the defense and advancement of common interests in the region, noting progress in strengthened cooperative defense.

Although their statement did not mention China, premiers confirmed that they discussed their most significant trading partner. "Clearly, geopolitical competition, including among major powers, is what countries like Australia and New Zealand are discussing together," Albanese noted.

Luxon added that both countries maintain a similar approach in their bilateral relations with China. "China is an important global power. It is important that we can engage with them," he emphasized.

Tags: Politics