Written by Guy C. Charlton
The Diplomat
As the United States and Australia deepen ties with various Asian and Southeast Asian states, the issue of whether New Zealand or Canada should join the nascent AUKUS security arrangement becomes more pressing. Both states already share deep security relationships with Australia and the United States.
These include the Five Eyes intelligence arrangement (which, like AUKUS, also includes the United Kingdom) and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Canada is also a member of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and New Zealand is a member of the Five-Power Defense Arrangement with the U.K. New Zealand has also been an active partner with NATO across a range of areas such as terrorism. It contributed special forces to the NATO Afghanistan operation. Australia, a member of AUKUS, is the only formal defense ally of New Zealand and the two states work together on a range of security and defense activities.
These security relationships underpin a set of shared liberal values and a commitment to the current rule-based international order that has structured international relationships in the Asia-Pacific for the past seven decades. As such, despite the shadow of nuclear proliferation and the potential for increased polarization in the region, both Canada and New Zealand should consider entering “Pillar Two” of AUKUS.
While most publicity surrounding AUKUS has been centered on the provision of nuclear submarines for Australia, the pact provides for separate R&D, procurement, and information arrangements that do not involve nuclear technologies. Pillar Two of AUKUS is envisioned to cover eight workstreams, including artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cyber technologies, undersea capacities, and hypersonics. Members pledge to cooperate and share in the development and use of these technologies.
Participation in Pillar Two could provide Canada and New Zealand with significant opportunities to upgrade a set of technological innovations and benefit from additional advances in these technologies. This access and participation in turn would have beneficial economic impacts while enhancing overall defense cooperation and readiness.
This is an excerpt from The Diplomat. To continue reading, please click here.
These security relationships underpin a set of shared liberal values and a commitment to the current rule-based international order that has structured international relationships in the Asia-Pacific for the past seven decades. As such, despite the shadow of nuclear proliferation and the potential for increased polarization in the region, both Canada and New Zealand should consider entering “Pillar Two” of AUKUS.
While most publicity surrounding AUKUS has been centered on the provision of nuclear submarines for Australia, the pact provides for separate R&D, procurement, and information arrangements that do not involve nuclear technologies. Pillar Two of AUKUS is envisioned to cover eight workstreams, including artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cyber technologies, undersea capacities, and hypersonics. Members pledge to cooperate and share in the development and use of these technologies.
Participation in Pillar Two could provide Canada and New Zealand with significant opportunities to upgrade a set of technological innovations and benefit from additional advances in these technologies. This access and participation in turn would have beneficial economic impacts while enhancing overall defense cooperation and readiness.
This is an excerpt from The Diplomat. To continue reading, please click here.
[Heading photo: AFP/Getty]
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