Russian activities seen as threat

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32978, 26 July 1972, Page 2

Russian activities seen as threat

New Zealand Press Association

WELLINGTON, July 25.

Australia saw the increase in Russian activities in the Indian Ocean as a long-term strategic threat, said the Australian Minister for Defence (Mr Fairbairn) in Wellington today.

Speaking to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, he said the Russian presence had changed Australia’s attitudes to the maritime environment and had affected defence priorities.

“One of the greatest, changes we see in the strategic situation is of the sea itself.

“In the past we have regarded the sea as a shield. But with the development of a large Russian fleet, the w’hole question has become how we cope with a threat on the sea rather than on the land.

“We see no immediate threat, but we do see a longterm threat in this build-up,” Mr Fairbairn said. Australia rated naval defence its top priority, and encouraged its friends to have a presence in the Indian' Ocean “so that this large area doesn’t go by default.” Mr Fairbairn said that no reduction in the size of Australia’s Army was foreseen, but administrative economies had been made. “We don’t see a requirement in Australia at the moment for nuclear weapons. We believe our duty is to build up conventional weapons, and regard the United States as a shield.”

( Mr Fairbairn said this was i a time of great changes in I the global strategic setting. The two super-Powers, the United States and the Soviet Union, no longer were overwhelmingly dominant. China was emerging as a powerful voice, with conventional and nuclear resources, and Japan had the power to divert her great economic strength to defence and also become a super-Power. Movements in the balance between the Powers could have a profound effect on Australia’s strategic environment, he said. Cabinet talks

Mr Fairbairn today gave the New Zealand Cabinet a review of Australian defence policy and its developments. After the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) said there had also been a review on the strategic position in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Mr Fairbairn’s visit ' followed the policy of close co-operation in defence, as in other matters, between the two countries, he said. This had been dramatically underlined by

the Australian purchase of New Zealand Air trainer aircraft.

Mr Marshall said that at today’s discussions Mr Fairbairn had not suggested reciprocal purchases from Australia.

Also, Mr Fairbairn had not said that Australia would like to see New Zealand spend more on defence—this was not alluded to.