New Zealand said Thursday it will contemplate sharing advanced military technologies with the United States and Britain as it pursues closer defense ties with Australia amid worries over an increasingly assertive China.
The defense and foreign ministers of Australia and New Zealand met in Melbourne to discuss deepening security ties between the neighboring nations. It was their first joint meeting since New Zealand’s right-leaning coalition government took office last year.
Australia announced it will send officials to New Zealand this year to discuss the three-way defense partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
China, the United States and others are wrangling for influence in the strategically crucial Pacific.
The U.S. and Britain have agreed to provide Australia with a fleet of submarines powered by U.S. nuclear technology.
New Zealand has banned nuclear-powered ships from using its ports since 1984, However, it is pondering whether to become involved in a commitment between Australia, Britain and the United States to develop and share advanced military capabilities, including artificial intelligence, electronic warfare and hypersonic technology.
