New Zealand PM wants defence shakeup, focus on 'traditional' allies

New Zealand shifts foreign policy towards traditional allies, focusing on security and military upgrades amid geopolitical tensions.

New Zealand will shake up its defence forces and "reset" its foreign policy to align with traditional allies, the country's Prime Minister said Thursday (August 15, 2024).

In his first major foreign policy speech since taking office last year, Premier Christopher Luxon said the country could no longer depend on the "splendid isolation" provided by its geography.

"The foundation of our foreign policy reset is our collaboration with longstanding partners," Mr. Luxon told the Lowy Institute, a foreign policy think tank in Sydney, Australia.

He said the country would look to strengthen links with traditional partners — a notable shift after years of closer economic ties with China — citing the United States, Britain, NATO, and Pacific neighbours as those "we know best and with whom we have deep reservoirs of trust".

Mr. Luxon acknowledged that China remains New Zealand's biggest trading partner and "a country of undoubted influence", but said different values mean "there are issues on which we cannot and will not agree".

In March, Wellington said a Chinese "state-sponsored group" was behind a 2021 malicious cyber attack that infiltrated sensitive government computer systems.

Also Read: Explained | What kept cybersecurity busy in 2021?