iscover
Australia and New Zealand have reaffirmed formal commitments to each other as allies under an Anzac 2035 agreement signed in Canberra.
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Richard Marles and New Zealand’s Minister of Defence Judith Collins signed the agreement earlier this week, also commemorating the 75th anniversary of the formal establishment of the Alliance in the 1951 ANZUS Treaty.
The agreement envisions that Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces will be able to operate seamlessly as an increasingly integrated, combat capable Anzac force by 2035, while remaining respectful of our status as two sovereign countries.
Under the agreement, commitments have been made to (by 2035) enhance force posture cooperation with rotational activities, establish a Australia-New Zealand Force Posture Working Group to develop recommendations to advance force posture cooperation, operate as a more integrated Anzac force, reduce barriers to defence industry participation and explore the co-development or co-production of common capabilities.
In addition, both countries have committed to increase Pacific defence force interoperability, as well as building understanding of a respective and collective force by 2035.
“Today’s ANZMIN meeting obviously happens against the backdrop of conflict in the Middle East, but also a very volatile world. And it's not lost on any of us that in the context of that world, it is profoundly important that in the community of nations, family, as we are, stick closely together,” according to Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, at a press conference at Parliament House on March 17.
“Today as part of our statement of intent, we have agreed to establish a force posture working group which will look at every possible opportunity where our two defence forces can posture and work together.
“We already have an extensive working together in our calendar of operations and exercises – exercises such as Talisman Sabre and Bersama Lima – but we are looking at where we can do this more and we will be cooperating and working together more in exercises this year.
“In respect of preparedness, we're particularly focused in the world today on the question of readiness and we are looking at how we can cooperate more in respect of both of our defence forces operating under a similar concept of readiness.
“We're looking at how we can cooperate more in respect of resilience, particularly in respect of our strategic military stockpiles. In relation to defence industry, we are pursuing opportunities for co-production, co‑sustainment and co‑procurement.
“This is important not just because of the world today, but because both of our defence forces are growing. In both Australia and New Zealand we are seeing an increased defence expenditure. And what our plan is, is that as we grow, we grow together. Because in having a greater joint force, we are able to leverage the opportunity in terms of much greater capability and much greater effect.”
