James Skinner
James is the Founder & Chief Executive of
CANZUK International in Vancouver, Canada
Australian and New Zealand Ministers have met in Canberra this week to further defence collaboration and release a joint-ANZAC 2035 statement.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, hosted New Zealand Minister of Defence, Judith Collins, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, in Canberra on March 17th for the third Australia–New Zealand Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations.
Discussions focused on strengthening the longstanding alliance between Australia and New Zealand amid a complex global security environment, including recent developments in the Middle East.
A highlight of the consultations was the release of the joint “ANZAC 2035: Operationalising the Alliance” statement by Deputy Prime Minister Marles and Minister Collins. The document sets out a clear ten-year vision for closer defence relations, aiming for Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces to operate as an increasingly integrated, combat-capable ANZAC force by 2035, while fully respecting each nation’s sovereignty.
The meetings also addressed broader foreign policy priorities, including support for Pacific Island nations. Ministers pledged continued backing for regional forums, with specific commitments to Palau’s hosting of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in 2026 and New Zealand’s hosting in 2027.
This latest round of high-level engagement builds on the strong foundation of the Australia–New Zealand Closer Economic Relations (CER) agreement and longstanding people-to-people ties, demonstrating the enduring value of practical cooperation between these two CANZUK partners.
CANZUK International welcomes the outcomes of the consultations and the ambitious ANZAC 2035 roadmap. Closer defence and security alignment between Australia and New Zealand strengthens not only the trans-Tasman relationship but also contributes meaningfully to the broader vision of enhanced collaboration, resilience, and shared prosperity across all four CANZUK nations — Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
In an era of strategic uncertainty, such focused and forward-looking partnership among like-minded democracies sets a positive example and reinforces the strategic rationale for deeper CANZUK integration in trade, mobility, foreign policy, and defence.
A highlight of the consultations was the release of the joint “ANZAC 2035: Operationalising the Alliance” statement by Deputy Prime Minister Marles and Minister Collins. The document sets out a clear ten-year vision for closer defence relations, aiming for Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces to operate as an increasingly integrated, combat-capable ANZAC force by 2035, while fully respecting each nation’s sovereignty.
The meetings also addressed broader foreign policy priorities, including support for Pacific Island nations. Ministers pledged continued backing for regional forums, with specific commitments to Palau’s hosting of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in 2026 and New Zealand’s hosting in 2027.
This latest round of high-level engagement builds on the strong foundation of the Australia–New Zealand Closer Economic Relations (CER) agreement and longstanding people-to-people ties, demonstrating the enduring value of practical cooperation between these two CANZUK partners.
CANZUK International welcomes the outcomes of the consultations and the ambitious ANZAC 2035 roadmap. Closer defence and security alignment between Australia and New Zealand strengthens not only the trans-Tasman relationship but also contributes meaningfully to the broader vision of enhanced collaboration, resilience, and shared prosperity across all four CANZUK nations — Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
In an era of strategic uncertainty, such focused and forward-looking partnership among like-minded democracies sets a positive example and reinforces the strategic rationale for deeper CANZUK integration in trade, mobility, foreign policy, and defence.
Heading photo: X – Minister Winston Peters – New Zealand government
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