Judith Collins, New Zealand’s Minister of Defence, tells Breaking Defense that no matter what happens with AUKUS, her government is “looking at as much interoperability” as possible with Australia.
Chris Luxon, the leader of the National Party and New Zealand’s likely next prime minister, has sounded more open to joining the AUKUS Pillar 2 technology initiative than the Labour party was.
“These documents represent a clear statement of intent by the New Zealand Government to step up its foreign policy and military efforts in the Pacific,” one analyst told Breaking Defense.
Wellington’s overtures to the Pacific Island nations are starting to see results as its new approach to the region sees relations improve allowing for more in-depth defence engagement.
Among the political elite in Wellington, there is disagreement about the value of New Zealand joining this element of the partnership — disagreement that could end any realistic chances of New Zealand becoming the fourth member of AUKUS.
Now in its fifth iteration, the MAPLE 5 architecture has moved away from the individual command and control of single platforms towards operating multiple platforms and the development of operational concepts at force level.
The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain could ultimately involve buying in excess of 3,200 new heavy armored platforms, with a price tag of over $11.5 billion over the next 15 years.
