Change in N.Z. defence

Press, 2 April 1985, Page 1

Change in N.Z. defence

Wellington reporter New Zealand will emerge from the A.N.Z.U.S. dispute with a more self-reliant foreign affairs posture focused on the stability of the South Pacific — this was the thrust of a position paper prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and adopted by the Cabinet yesterday. The Acting Prime Minister, Mr Palmer, released a four-page summary of the document, saying that it had been edited but that not much had been cut from it. The report finds that there is no identifiable threat to New Zealand ano

that, if one did develop, the fundamental guarantees provided by A.N.Z.U.S. would remain valid. “This is recognised by Australia and the United States,” it says. It accepts, however, that trilateral defence co-opera-cion within the A.N.Z.U.S. framework has largely been suspended and that it may not be restored, and examines how New Zealand can best adjust to these circumstances. A two-pronged approach is proposed whereby New Zealand ploughs more resources into South Pacific security and uses this as a basis for strengthening its

relationships with Australia i and the United States. ; “That will involve a new concentration of New Zealand effort in our immedi- 1 ate neighbourhood, an expansion of New Zealand political, economic, and defence activity in the region ' and the assertion of an increasingly active role,” it says. ' This means an increased defence capacity; more effort in surveillance, exercise, and training assistance; and “a more effective New Zealand presence on the ' ground.” By carrying a greater share of the common security effort in the South Paci-

fic, New Zealand should be able to safeguard the benefits it receives from the United States, the report says. “While these are most visible in terms of our exports to the United States, there are few areas in our foreign policy which do not involve, in one way or the other, the United States,” it says. “There are important continuing links in the Intelligence and defence field, notably the assurance of access to information relating to our immediate security and the purchase of military equipment.”

For these reasons; and because the public clearly favours friendly relations with the United States, the report says the partnership must be as little disturbed as possible. It also recommends that New Zealand cultivate and extend its relationship with Australia — “New Zealand’s closest ally” — on the basis of a pro-Western regionalism. Mr Palmer said the recommendations represented “a distinct shift in foreign

policy emphasis” and that the decision to buy a sixth Air Force Orion was consistent with this. He said the contract had been signed for $l9 million with the Australian Government and that the Orion would increase New Zealand’s surveillance capacity in the South Pacific. It would be pressed into service in June next year when it had been modernised. The purchase was the first in a number of moves under consideration after the Defence Council’s report to the Cabinet, Mr Palmer said. Asked when the other re-

commendations in the review would be acted on, he said he did not know. Many of them would affect spending in other portfolios and involved “complicated financial decision-making.”