James Skinner
James is the Founder & Chief Executive of
CANZUK International in Vancouver, Canada
In a significant step towards deepening the enduring partnership between the United Kingdom and New Zealand, Prime Ministers Sir Keir Starmer and Christopher Luxon have announced enhanced collaboration in defence, security, and economic domains.
The leaders recently visited Operation Interflex, a joint initiative where British and New Zealand forces are training Ukrainian troops. New Zealand’s contribution to this effort has been substantial, supporting the training of over 54,000 Ukrainian soldiers.
Prime Minister Luxon is expected to confirm New Zealand’s continued involvement through the end of 2025, showcasing the nation’s dedication to global stability and its alignment with like-minded partners like the UK.
Prime Minister Luxon is expected to confirm New Zealand’s continued involvement through the end of 2025, showcasing the nation’s dedication to global stability and its alignment with like-minded partners like the UK.
Prime Minister Starmer highlighted the deep-rooted connection between the two countries, stating: “From the beaches of Gallipoli to our joint efforts in Operation Interflex and steadfast support for Ukraine, the UK and New Zealand have stood shoulder-to-shoulder for generations, united in our pursuit of peace and security.”
To further strengthen military cooperation, the leaders directed their defence ministers to develop a new joint defence partnership, building on the framework established in 2015. This follows significant increases in defence spending—2.5% of GDP for the UK and 2% for New Zealand—reflecting a shared resolve to enhance national and collective security. A key highlight of this collaboration is the deployment of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s frigate HMNZS Te Kaha alongside the UK Carrier Strike Group in the Indian Ocean, as part of the latter’s Indo-Pacific mission.
Economically, the UK and New Zealand are also committed to expanding their already robust relationship. Bilateral trade in goods and services reached £3.6 billion in the year to September 2024, a 5.3% increase from the previous year. The leaders reaffirmed their dedication to free and open trade through mechanisms like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. These agreements align with CANZUK’s advocacy for seamless economic cooperation, fostering prosperity among member nations and beyond.
Prime Minister Starmer concluded: “In an increasingly volatile world, the partnership between the UK and New Zealand stands as a beacon of cooperation. From increasing our defence spending to deploying our navies together in the Indo-Pacific and supporting Ukraine against an aggressive Russia, we are stronger together. Our work exemplifies the power of nations with shared values uniting for security and prosperity.”
The strengthened UK-New Zealand partnership serves as a model for the kind of collaboration CANZUK seeks to promote—rooted in history, driven by shared goals, and poised to deliver security, stability, and economic opportunity for future generations.
To further strengthen military cooperation, the leaders directed their defence ministers to develop a new joint defence partnership, building on the framework established in 2015. This follows significant increases in defence spending—2.5% of GDP for the UK and 2% for New Zealand—reflecting a shared resolve to enhance national and collective security. A key highlight of this collaboration is the deployment of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s frigate HMNZS Te Kaha alongside the UK Carrier Strike Group in the Indian Ocean, as part of the latter’s Indo-Pacific mission.
Economically, the UK and New Zealand are also committed to expanding their already robust relationship. Bilateral trade in goods and services reached £3.6 billion in the year to September 2024, a 5.3% increase from the previous year. The leaders reaffirmed their dedication to free and open trade through mechanisms like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. These agreements align with CANZUK’s advocacy for seamless economic cooperation, fostering prosperity among member nations and beyond.
Prime Minister Starmer concluded: “In an increasingly volatile world, the partnership between the UK and New Zealand stands as a beacon of cooperation. From increasing our defence spending to deploying our navies together in the Indo-Pacific and supporting Ukraine against an aggressive Russia, we are stronger together. Our work exemplifies the power of nations with shared values uniting for security and prosperity.”
The strengthened UK-New Zealand partnership serves as a model for the kind of collaboration CANZUK seeks to promote—rooted in history, driven by shared goals, and poised to deliver security, stability, and economic opportunity for future generations.
Heading photo: Number 10 under Creative Commons License Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivs 2.0 Generic
Share this:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Email
