NZ looks to enhance links with Pacific's militaries – report
Quoting Radio New Zealand – 29 October 2019
“New Zealand is looking to enhance its partnerships with the Pacific's militaries, in a new assessment released today.
“Defence minister Ron Mark said the 'Advancing Pacific Partnerships 2019' assessment outlined how New Zealand would be a trusted and reliable partner for the Pacific.
“The assessment speaks of a new urgency, about how climate change, transnational crime and geopolitical competition means New Zealand has to act in new ways and at new levels.
“It also weighs heavily on the Boe Declaration, signed by the region's leaders - including Jacinda Ardern - at the Pacific Islands Forum last year, which declared climate change the region's single-greatest security threat.
“Today's assessment said the military would need to collaborate more, be prepared to deploy more, and be present in an increasingly competitive region.
“It said relationships would be New Zealand's competitive edge in that environment, with plans to invest in leadership training, cultural awareness, and other people-to-people measures.
“The government's investment in new equipment and a Pacific Leadership Development Programme already went some way to doing that, Mr Mark said.”
Copyright @ 2019, Radio New Zealand.
